News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – There is a need to enhance the role and expand the areas of cooperation of the UNECE, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Mr Christian Friis Bach, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko said that this is not the first time Mr Christian Friis Bach is visiting Belarus and it is very important as he has developed his own opinion about Belarus.

With regard to the Economic Commission for Europe, which unites 56 states, Alexander Lukashenko said: “Your projects and research in many fields, especially in economy, environment, innovations, transport, construction, social services, public-private partnerships contribute greatly to the development of national programs in the relevant areas.”

“It is a pleasure for me to meet with you because you are strongly committed to these activities, concerned about protecting the environment,” the head of state noted.

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the theme of environmental protection. “Of course, we attach great importance to these issues. An international agreement was concluded in Paris. This is a great victory, including for the Economic Commission for Europe that made a great contribution. But still we have probably not yet realized fully what might happen to the planet and humanity if we continue to disregard these issues, if we do not apply a systemic approach to many issues, including the areas that the ECE is engaged in. So we have a very long way ahead of us,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

The Belarus President stated that there is a need to ensure safe life on the planet. “This applies to the life of the man who depends on the economy and also the air he breathes, on the environment. For me personally, it is an absolute priority,” he stressed.

Belarus is ready to share its experience in environmental activities, including during the conference of the parties to the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context due in Minsk in 2017.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that environmental matters are very important for all countries. “Your research and innovations make the planet a safer place,” the head of state believes.

The UNECE is one of five regional economic commissions of the United Nations. Established in March 1947, headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland), the ECE unites 56 states, including countries in Europe, the United States, Canada, Israel and all the post-Soviet states.

Belarus is a full-fledged member of the UNECE since its inception. The Economy Ministry is in charge of the cooperation with the Commission. Priorities for cooperation with the UNECE are trade facilitation, transport, energy, innovations, and ecology.