Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – The UNICEF activity promotes efficient settlement of countries' most important issues in the interests of children, including access to education and healthcare, improvement in child mortality, Belarus’ Permanent Representative in the UN Andrei Dapkyunas said at the annual session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in its headquarters in New York on 16 June, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Belarus is taking part in the session as a full-fledged member of the UNICEF Executive Board which unites 36 countries. The Belarusian Permanent Representative in the UN took part in the discussion of the report of UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake on the results of the Fund’s activity

Andrei Dapkyunas praised UNICEF cooperation with Belarus in the protection of children’s rights, maternity and childhood, counteraction to HIV spread among children and youth.

The Belarusian diplomat expressed hope for the continuation of successful cooperation between UNICEF and the Belarusian government within the new UNICEF country program for Belarus for 2016-2020. Andrei Dapkyunas also stressed that openness, mutual understanding and constructive cooperation between the Fund and countries are of crucial importance for the protection of children’s rights and interests.