MOSCOW, 18 November (BelTA) – Belarus takes a principled position on the issue of sanctions: it is only the UN Security Council that has the mandate of imposing them, Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told the media following a joint meeting of the collegiums of the ministries of foreign affairs of Belarus and Russia in Moscow on 18 November, BelTA has learned.
“Another topic that requires our common attention is the practice of using unilateral sanctions by a number of global players. Western countries and their partners have been taking consistent steps to empower some international organizations with non-traditional judicial and other functions. Belarus takes a principled position on this issue: it is only the UN Security Council that has the right to impose sanctions,” Vladimir Makei said.
The minister stressed that Belarus opposes attempts of any states to replace the UN and unilaterally impose economic, trade, financial and other measures to achieve its goals. “The issue of sanctions requires joint steps by Minsk and Moscow in the United Nations,” said Vladimir Makei. He suggested resisting the politicization of the existing sanctions mechanisms and legitimization of the bad practice of using unilateral measures contradicting the United Nations charter.
