VITEBSK, 29 October (BelTA) – A declaration of commitment to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals was signed in Vitebsk which hosts UN70 Belarus Express traveling through the cities of Belarus today, BelTA has learned.
The signing ceremony in the city children and youth art center was attended by Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus Sanaka Samarasinha, UNODC regional adviser on HIV/AIDS in Belarus Vladimir Gordeiko, UNAIDS coordinator in Belarus Vera Ilyenkova.
"Organizations of Vitebsk Oblast are well represented in the UN international projects in the field of energy efficiency, health, education, nature and ecology. We are implementing a large-scale and long-time project Green City taking into account the UN initiative. It is aimed at promoting the environmental improvements: household waste will be used to make methane which will replace diesel fuel, and also will be used by utilities companies, the food and processing industry, in passenger transportation. I would like to see our relations grow stronger and contacts become closer. Vitebsk Oblast is ready for closer cooperation and effective work,” Nikolai Sherstnev said.
On behalf of the United Nations, Sanaka Samarasinha expressed gratitude to the local authorities for the support of the project "UN70 Belarus Express for Sustainable Development.” The declaration includes 17 major targets, but they all are about two aspects - people and the planet. We must work together to preserve both. Vitebsk Oblast is unique for its natural beauty and can inspire all of us to work harder to protect this wealth. Here live people of different ethnicities. The many-year host of the Slavonic Bazaar festival which brings together different people, Vitebsk has been chosen venue of the grand finale of our initiative,” the UN representative said.
The UN70 Belarus Express in Vitebsk is themed around the environment issues: energy efficiency, environment and participation of local communities in sustainable development. The Vitebsk railway station is the last stop before the train returns to Minsk. Vitebsk is hosting the UN employees, representatives of a wide range of partners, public associations, youth who are set to discuss the sustainable development goals such as renewable energy, responsible consumption, combating the climate change and its impact, protection, restoration and sustainable use of ecosystems and others.
