MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – The launch of a new multilateral process was mentioned by Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei in his speech during the online high-level discussion on harnessing inter-regional integration for the SDGs on 20 May, BelTA has learned.
Vladimir Makei said: “The event we organize together with our respected partners from Barbados and the UNCTAD Secretariat is not just another Zoom conference. During the pandemic all of us became accustomed to meeting online but today's conference is special. Thanks to this conference we are launching a new multilateral process, the need for which is already ripe.”
Vladimir Makei reminded that for many years Belarus has been advocating the “integration of integrations” initiative, which is aimed at establishing steady contacts and a dialogue, at sharing the best practices in interaction between different integration groups. A high-level conference took place in Minsk in 2016 to discuss laying the foundation in Europe for economic integration and sustainable development till 2030. “Now we aim to elevate this initiative from the regional level to the global one,” the official stated.
In his words, the experience of Belarus' presidency over the Eurasian Economic Union in 2020 and the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2021 has convinced the country that tighter cooperation between regional integration associations is necessary.
“Our goal is to encourage regional integration structures and their member states to share opinions on working out collective solutions to common challenges, including those triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to have a brainstorm discussion in order to find the answers that we desperately need in these troubled times,” the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs noted.
Vladimir Makei went on saying: “We firmly believe that there is no alternative to effective multilateralism. Our initiative will explore a new dimension of multilateralism, will help make it stronger through interaction between regions of the planet. The initiative will play a uniting role without separation and fragmentation. As a result of this initiative we could establish cooperation between integration bodies by creating what unites all of us.”
He said that the initiative is meant to demonstrate in practice that different integration projects are not sworn enemies. All-round cooperation between them is possible and necessary. Interdependence of integration associations will help avoid toxic competition and the emergence of new divisive lines in the world.
“Amid the complicated geopolitical situation in the world and growing regional tension accompanied by the expanding use of neo-protectionist and unilateral coercive measures we acutely need a universal uniting agenda,” Vladimir Makei is convinced.
He noted with satisfaction the broad participation of ministers of foreign affairs and heads of international organizations and integration associations in the online conference. “Your involvement confirms the timeliness and importance of the Belarusian initiative,” he said.
Vladimir Makei went on saying: “The process we are launching today may be developed later on during the 15th UNCTAD conference, the 7th World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi in 2021, during sessions of the UN General Assembly, and on other international platforms. We expect it will serve a common goal for greater interconnection and harmonization of economic integration projects in the context of achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I invite you today to witness the beginning of the way that I hope will become a long-term and significant project.”
The online high-level discussion on harnessing inter-regional integration for the SDGs was organized by Belarus, Barbados, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados Jerome Walcott, Russian Federation Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich, Secretary General of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Henri Getaz, ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi, UNCTAD Acting Secretary General Isabelle Durant, WIPO Director General Daren Tang, heads of all the five regional economic commissions of the United Nations Organization (UNECE, UNECA, ESCAP, ECLAC, ESCWA), high-level representatives from Argentina, the Andean Community of Nations (ACN), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) also took part in the conference. Thus, people from virtually all parts of the world and leaders of virtually all the integration associations and the main economic and investment organizations of the United Nations Organization responded favorably to Belarus' initiative.
