Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) - UNHCR Representative in Belarus Jean-Yves Bouchardy praised the level of cooperation with the Interior Ministry of Belarus in matters related to people seeking asylum. The UNHCR Representative in Belarus said this as he met with Belarus’ Deputy Interior Minister Nikolai Melchenko on 13 September, BelTA learnt from the Information and PR Department of the Belarusian Interior Ministry.

Jean Yves Bouchardy also hailed the ministry’s activity in providing assistance to Ukrainian citizens. He said that the UNHCR has been running its campaign to end statelessness since 2014. Nikolai Melchenko thanked the guest for a high assessment of the joint activity.

According to the Interior Ministry, in 2017-2018 the national legislation will be analyzed for compliance with the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The results of the analysis and the experience of the participating states in the conventions will be taken into account while considering the issue of Belarus’ accession to these international agreements.

The representatives of the Interior Ministry also updated Jean Yves Bouchardy on the steps taken to harmonize Belarus’ regulatory legal acts on forced migration with the law “Concerning amendments and additions to some laws of the Republic of Belarus on forced migration”.