MINSK, 5 October (BelTA) – Belarus will continue providing favorable conditions for successful work of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the country, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentin Rybakov said as he met with Cihan Sultanoglu, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Valentin Rybakov emphasized that Belarus is interested in strengthening cooperation with the UNDP. The diplomat welcomed the recent adoption of the UNDP Country Program for Belarus for 2016-2020. “Valentin Rybakov said that Belarus is satisfied with UNDP's economic and social programs and projects. He added that the country will continue developing partnership ties with the agency and creating the necessary conditions for UNDP's successful work in Belarus,” the press service said.
Valentin Rybakov and Cihan Sultanoglu also discussed cooperation in Chernobyl-related issues in anticipation of the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. “Given that the UNDP coordinates international cooperation in Chernobyl-related problems, the parties talked over the development of new strategic approaches for the United Nations in this field and the organization of commemoration events in April 2016,” the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.
Apart from that, Valentin Rybakov took part in celebration of the International Day of Non-Violence at the UN headquarters.
The event was organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations. Attending the celebration were the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, and high-ranking officials from the UN member states. Valentin Rybakov also met with his Indian counterpart, Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. As he addressed the participants of the event, Valentin Rybakov spoke in favor of the philosophy and practice of peace and non-violence. He recalled that the Tree of Peace and Unity was planted at the UN headquarters on Belarus' initiative. He also noted that the initiative is consonant with the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi.
