MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) – Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei has held a meeting with President of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak, BelTA learned from the website of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 72nd UN General Assembly on 22 September. Vladimir Makei welcomed the appointment of the representative of the Eastern European Group to this important post. The minister expressed Belarus' full support of the initiatives of the president of the UN General Assembly.
Vladimir Makei drew Miroslav Lajcak's attention to the activities of Belarus, as one of the coordinators of the Like-Minded Group of Countries Supporters of Middle-Income Countries, and suggested to support the development of a comprehensive UN strategy for cooperation with these countries. In turn, the UN General Assembly president praised Belarus' contribution to the work of the UN and expressed readiness to promote the development of a cooperation platform with middle-income countries.
Miroslav Lajcak focused on the need to strengthen the preventive component of the UN work on peace and security, called for the most active participation of Belarus in the work on the global strategy for migration, and outlined his vision of the reformation of the UN Security Council and revitalization of the work of the UN General Assembly.
Vladimir Makei and Miroslav Lajcak shared views on the UN reorganization, initiated by the UN Secretary General.
On the sidelines of the session, Vladimir Makei also met with Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Anthony Lake. The minister stressed that issues of child protection and family support are in the focus of attention of the country's authorities. An important support in this work is provided by the UNICEF Office in Minsk. Anthony Lake welcomed the efforts of Belarus to promote the rights of children at the national level in the context of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and assured the continuation of constructive cooperation between UNICEF and Belarus. He also expressed satisfaction with the constructive role that the Belarusian delegation plays in the UNICEF Executive Board. The minister invited the UNICEF head to visit Belarus.
During the meeting with Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelkader Messahel, the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs noted the need to expand trade and economic cooperation and implement joint projects. Abdelkader Messahel proposed to organize a visit of an expert-level Belarusian delegation to Algeria to outline concrete measures that will strengthen bilateral cooperation. The sides agreed on the importance to establish direct contacts between businessmen of the two countries.
Vladimir Makei also met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al Muallem to discuss the situation in Syria and the prospects for its settlement. Walid al Muallem expressed gratitude to Belarus for the humanitarian cooperation, in particular for the reception of Syrian children who were on recovery at the Zubrenok children's camp in August 2017. The sides also discussed cooperation in trade and education.
At the initiative of the North Korean side, the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs met with Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Ri Yong-ho, who raised issues of bilateral relations and cooperation in international organizations. The ministers exchanged views on the situation on the Korean peninsula. Vladimir Makei noted that all parties to the conflict should refrain from actions that could lead to further escalation of tensions. He also emphasized that Belarus is ready to continue dialogue with the DPRK on topical issues taking into account decisions of the UN Security Council.
On the same day, Vladimir Makei met with Nehemia Peres, a son of former Israel President Shimon Peres, a Nobel Laureate and a native of Belarus. Nehemia Peres presented the autobiographical book of his father, in which Shimon Peres highly speaks about the place where he was born and spent his childhood. Upon the initiative of the minister, the sides discussed the issues on the preservation of the memory about famous representatives of the Jewish people whose life and work were connected with the Belarusian land. During the meeting, Nehemia Peres suggested opening in Belarus an office of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, which main direction of activity is to train the youth in the field of innovative and technological development.
