Events

MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) – The administration of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has noticed Belarus’ leading role in defending interests of middle-income countries in the United Nations Organization. The statement was made in the UN HQ in New York when Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentin Rybakov met with ECOSOC President, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative in the UN Frederick Shava, BelTA has learned.

Valentin Rybakov said Belarus supports the ECOSOC President’s initiatives meant to create mechanisms to help reach the sustainable development goals. The Belarusian diplomat drew attention to the need to take into account specific problems of middle-income countries. It is impossible to reach the sustainable development goals without dealing with these problems first.

The Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also mentioned that the like-minded group of countries that support middle-income countries held the first ministerial meeting under the chairmanship of the ministers of foreign affairs of Belarus and Costa Rica in September 2016. Valentin Rybakov sketched out the group’s near-future plans. In particular, he noted ECOSOC’s operation is important for Belarus considering a session is scheduled to take place within the ECOSOC framework to discuss matters concerning middle-income countries.

Frederick Shava affirmed Belarus’ leading role in defending interests of middle-income countries in the United Nations Organization. He reminded that the Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had been invited to take part in the ECOSOC forum that will take place in early March to discuss problems of middle-income countries in the capacity of a specially invited guest.

Valentin Rybakov and Frederick Shava also discussed preparations for the political forum on sustainable development that will take place under the ECOSOC aegis in July 2017. They shared the experience of their countries in getting ready to present national reports on reaching the sustainable development goals during the forum.

Valentin Rybakov told Frederick Shava that the post of a national coordinator to oversee the fulfillment of the sustainable development goals had been established in Belarus. Valentin Rybakov said that the Belarusian government intends to involve as many interested participants as possible in the process.