MINSK, 18 July (BelTA) - Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN Valentin Rybakov talked to the media after a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and explained why the sanctions imposed on Belarus by the Western countries are illegitimate and whether it is worth waiting for some action on the part of the United Nations, BelTA has learned.
In general, the diplomat noted the great importance of the UN as a universal international organization where all the states of the world are represented.
“This gives us the opportunity to work with virtually all countries, to convey our position on issues that important for Belarus,” he said.
According to Valentin Rybakov, the permanent mission devoted a lot of efforts to counteracting illegitimate unilateral sanctions.
“It should be absolutely clear that we cannot demand that the UN lift sanctions and we should not do it. These are not UN sanctions. That is why they are called unilateral coercive measures. They are measures taken either by a particular state or by a group of states. They are not international sanctions. Why do we rightly call them illegitimate? They are a direct gross violation of international law, the UN Charter, and all conceivable and inconceivable human rights. Only those sanctions adopted by decision of the UN Security Council are legitimate. Period. All other sanctions are illegitimate,” the diplomat explained.
In this connection, the point of work in the UN on anti-sanctions is to inform the international community about the gravest consequences of such sanctions. Often it is other countries that are more sensitive to the consequences of the sanctions, not Belarus.
“Especially in the context of sanctions on export of potash fertilizers and in the light of malnutrition and hunger in the world, primarily in the Global South. The scale, the impact of these bans is being felt everywhere. This is what our partners from those countries are telling us,” Valentin Rybakov noted.
There are other topics that Belarusian diplomats promote at the UN. These are issues related to the heroism of the Soviet and Belarusian peoples during the Great Patriotic War, countering attempts to glorify Nazism and manifestations of neo-Nazism, protection of traditional family values. It is also the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level.
“We have something to be proud of in this regard, we have something to tell the international community. We share our experience, talk about our achievements. We recognize that some goals are not being met. This is primarily due to the sanctions,” the diplomat said.
Valentin Rybakov emphasized that the Permanent Mission of Belarus has excellent business and personal relations with the leadership and staff of the permanent missions of many states. Contacts are also maintained with diplomats from Western countries, including the host country - the United States.
“This dialogue is not necessarily open, but it has never stopped and continues,” Valentin Rybakov informed.
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