Events

MINSK, 28 May (BelTA) – Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, UN Under-Secretary General Helen Clark has arrived in Belarus on a visit and will stay in the country from 28 May to 31 May, BelTA has learnt.

Helen Clark is the first UNDP head to visit Belarus. Her visit will demonstrate the UNDP commitment to providing assistance to Belarus in promoting economic and social development.

During the visit the sides are to discuss the results of the UNDP efforts in Belarus over the last few years and future cooperation.

Helen Clark is expected to visit the town of Vetka, Gomel Oblast, and the Polesie State Radiation and Ecological Reserve.

On 30 May a visiting session of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl will be held in Minsk. The session will mark the start of the development of long-term approaches towards international cooperation on Chernobyl problems for the period after 2016.

Helen Clark will also visit the opioid replacement therapy office in Minsk to emphasize the importance of using this therapy to treat drug addicts.

“The UNDP will continue supporting efforts of the Belarusian government to help the most vulnerable population strata. Joint efforts include the project to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The project is financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,” UN/UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus Sanaka Samarasinha said.

Helen Clark is expected to call a press conference in Minsk City Hall on 31 May to sum up the results of the visit. At the same time three-time Olympic champion Darya Domracheva will be appointed the UNDP’s Goodwill Ambassador in Belarus.

Helen Clark was appointed Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009. She is the first woman to lead the organization. She is also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.

The UNDP Administrator is appointed by the UN Secretary-General for the period of four years and is approved by the UN General Assembly.