MINSK, 26 October (BelTA) - Larisa Belskaya, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, addressed the 16th session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva on 25 October, BelTA reports.
“Belarus shares many of the proposals put forward by other delegations regarding the future of UNCTAD, its role, and its tasks in implementing the mandate delegated by the UN General Assembly,” Larisa Belskaya said. “During these days, UN member states in Geneva are shaping an updated mandate for UNCTAD, which is designed to stimulate economic transformations for the sake of just, inclusive, and sustainable development.”
She believes that the development of the mandate should take into account the interests of middle-income countries and economies in transition, which are home to about 70% of the world's population.
"We reaffirm our commitment to the UNCTAD-16 outcome document, which is focused on promoting inclusive development at the national level, including support for small and medium-sized businesses and women's entrepreneurship. We also welcome UNCTAD's focus on supporting the sustainable development of all countries without exception and building a more just and sustainable global economy as a whole,” Larisa Belskaya stated.
She further stated: “We see the development of member states' technological potential, the creation of transparent and fair competition, including in transport and energy, the development of exchange trading, the improvement of customs and tariff regulation and e-commerce regulation, and the elimination of digital divides and barriers as relevant areas for UNCTAD's work, including in light of the priorities of Belarus' chairmanship in the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Belarus also shares the position of Global South countries that a fair and sustainable global economy is impossible without developing nations' access to technologies and adequate flows of development aid.Furthermore, Belarus considers it an important task for UNCTAD to strengthen international trade and economic relations by promoting dialogue and cooperation among various economic integration structures. This aims to expand mutual trade, exchange best practices, and ultimately achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Belarus has also expressed concern over the growing trend of aggressive application of illegal unilateral coercive measures, financial and trade sanctions by a group of Western countries against sovereign states. Such actions have a negative impact on the global economy and international trade, limit the ability of states to achieve sustainable development, worsen food security, and contribute to crises in the energy sector.
Larisa Belskaya stated: "Sanctions harm the well-being of people, the economic and social rights of citizens, not only in the states targeted by the sanctions but also in third countries and in the states that initiate the sanctions. Sanctions, particularly sectoral ones (on fertilizers, energy resources, technology, etc.), block international settlements and drive market prices up. Sanctions on critical raw materials or products lead to a global reconfiguration of supply chains. The search for alternative suppliers or supply routes from sanctioned countries typically requires significant time and substantial resources. Restrictive measures on certain goods, such as fertilizers and food, raise serious concerns due to their negative consequences for food security, particularly in vulnerable countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The inadequate attention given to the impact of unilateral coercive measures constitutes a problem that requires an appropriate solution.”
“Being a specialized agency of the UN General Assembly, UNCTAD should create opportunities to monitor, predict, and respond to price volatility and supply chain disruptions caused by sanctions, particularly concerning critically important goods, energy resources, and food. This is essential for identifying the countries and regions most at risk and for comprehensively assessing the impact of restrictive measures on the global economy, international trade, and sustainable development. It is necessary to expand intergovernmental cooperation through UNCTAD and other UN agencies to analyze and prevent the negative consequences of sanctions. Belarus is committed to approving an updated mandate for UNCTAD based on consensus. We expect that the conference's outcome document will be aimed at achieving specific, practical results that will ensure inclusive and sustainable development for all countries without exception, improve well-being, raise people's prosperity, and help adequately address the challenges of our time,” the Belarusian diplomat emphasized.
She expressed gratitude to UNCTAD for its fruitful cooperation with Belarus in the areas of competition and consumer protection, accounting and reporting standards, and e-commerce.
“Belarus will fully support UNCTAD's efforts to strengthen genuine multilateralism in international economic relations, develop interregional integration, and promote international trade,” Larisa Belskaya said.
“Belarus shares many of the proposals put forward by other delegations regarding the future of UNCTAD, its role, and its tasks in implementing the mandate delegated by the UN General Assembly,” Larisa Belskaya said. “During these days, UN member states in Geneva are shaping an updated mandate for UNCTAD, which is designed to stimulate economic transformations for the sake of just, inclusive, and sustainable development.”
She believes that the development of the mandate should take into account the interests of middle-income countries and economies in transition, which are home to about 70% of the world's population.
"We reaffirm our commitment to the UNCTAD-16 outcome document, which is focused on promoting inclusive development at the national level, including support for small and medium-sized businesses and women's entrepreneurship. We also welcome UNCTAD's focus on supporting the sustainable development of all countries without exception and building a more just and sustainable global economy as a whole,” Larisa Belskaya stated.
She further stated: “We see the development of member states' technological potential, the creation of transparent and fair competition, including in transport and energy, the development of exchange trading, the improvement of customs and tariff regulation and e-commerce regulation, and the elimination of digital divides and barriers as relevant areas for UNCTAD's work, including in light of the priorities of Belarus' chairmanship in the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Belarus also shares the position of Global South countries that a fair and sustainable global economy is impossible without developing nations' access to technologies and adequate flows of development aid.Furthermore, Belarus considers it an important task for UNCTAD to strengthen international trade and economic relations by promoting dialogue and cooperation among various economic integration structures. This aims to expand mutual trade, exchange best practices, and ultimately achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Belarus has also expressed concern over the growing trend of aggressive application of illegal unilateral coercive measures, financial and trade sanctions by a group of Western countries against sovereign states. Such actions have a negative impact on the global economy and international trade, limit the ability of states to achieve sustainable development, worsen food security, and contribute to crises in the energy sector.
Larisa Belskaya stated: "Sanctions harm the well-being of people, the economic and social rights of citizens, not only in the states targeted by the sanctions but also in third countries and in the states that initiate the sanctions. Sanctions, particularly sectoral ones (on fertilizers, energy resources, technology, etc.), block international settlements and drive market prices up. Sanctions on critical raw materials or products lead to a global reconfiguration of supply chains. The search for alternative suppliers or supply routes from sanctioned countries typically requires significant time and substantial resources. Restrictive measures on certain goods, such as fertilizers and food, raise serious concerns due to their negative consequences for food security, particularly in vulnerable countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The inadequate attention given to the impact of unilateral coercive measures constitutes a problem that requires an appropriate solution.”
“Being a specialized agency of the UN General Assembly, UNCTAD should create opportunities to monitor, predict, and respond to price volatility and supply chain disruptions caused by sanctions, particularly concerning critically important goods, energy resources, and food. This is essential for identifying the countries and regions most at risk and for comprehensively assessing the impact of restrictive measures on the global economy, international trade, and sustainable development. It is necessary to expand intergovernmental cooperation through UNCTAD and other UN agencies to analyze and prevent the negative consequences of sanctions. Belarus is committed to approving an updated mandate for UNCTAD based on consensus. We expect that the conference's outcome document will be aimed at achieving specific, practical results that will ensure inclusive and sustainable development for all countries without exception, improve well-being, raise people's prosperity, and help adequately address the challenges of our time,” the Belarusian diplomat emphasized.
She expressed gratitude to UNCTAD for its fruitful cooperation with Belarus in the areas of competition and consumer protection, accounting and reporting standards, and e-commerce.
“Belarus will fully support UNCTAD's efforts to strengthen genuine multilateralism in international economic relations, develop interregional integration, and promote international trade,” Larisa Belskaya said.
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