Events

MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) - A delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and representatives of the U.S. Department of State discussed the human rights issues, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Belarusian delegation included the head of multilateral diplomacy Yuri Ambrazevich, head of the America department Oleg Kravchenko and Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Belarus to the United States Pavel Shidlovsky. In Washington Belarus’ representatives met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric Rubin, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Jonathan Katz and other Department of State officials.

The parties considered the outcome of the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of commitments of the two countries in the UN Human Rights Council as well as their recommendations; the forthcoming presidential elections in Belarus and the two countries' commitments in the OSCE.

The Belarusian delegation also had meetings in the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Helsinki Commission and a number of non-governmental organizations. The parties agreed to continue discussions on human rights.