MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in studying cutting-edge Swedish experience of reaching the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Belarus' national coordinator for reaching the SDGs Marianna Shchetkina made the statement during a high-level meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership Initiative, BelTA has learned. The meeting was dedicated to matters of sustainable development, representatives of the Belarusian embassy in Sweden said.
Top officials of the ministries of foreign affairs of the Eastern Partnership countries as well as Romania, a deputy minister of foreign affairs of Poland, top officials of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and representatives of the European Commission took part in the event.
Marianna Shchetkina noted that active work is in progress in Belarus with a view to achieving the SDGs. She mentioned Belarus' priorities in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She stressed that Belarus and Sweden share interests on the 2030 Agenda in such areas as environmental protection, fight against climate change, gender equality, and efforts to secure sustainable economic growth. Minsk and Stockholm are ready to step up practical cooperation in the specified areas.
The national coordinator thanked the Swedish side for the implementation of projects designed to render technical aid to Belarus, including with SIDA's participation. She also thanked Sweden for humanitarian initiatives meant to help achieve the sustainable development goals.
Marianna Shchetkina met with Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Peter Eriksson and SIDA Director General Carin Jamtin. The Swedish side was informed about Belarus' efforts to reach the SDGs, about the architecture created as part of this work, about the contribution of the civil society to the efforts. Priorities of the Eastern Partnership Initiative in the sphere of sustainable development for the next ten years were discussed as well as key branches of bilateral interaction in these matters. The Belarusian side the Swedish one to consider approving previously submitted proposals on projects in the area of environmental protection, fight against climate change, and encouragement and protection of rights of people with disabilities.
Peter Eriksson described in detail the Swedish approaches to human rights, gender equality, and democracy promotion. In turn, Carin Jamtin talked about the preparation of another long-term strategy to guide SIDA's work in Eastern Europe and Western Balkans, including Belarus.
Apart from that, Marianna Shchetkina attended a meeting of Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlen with delegations of the Eastern Partnership Initiative countries. She met with Director General of the Secretariat of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Ambassador Maira Mora.
