Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 5 November (BelTA) – Belarus plays an important role in enhancing the relations between the East and the West. The statement was made by Christian Friis Bach, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), during the meeting with Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Andrei Kovkhuto on 5 November, BelTA has learned.

Christian Friis Bach stressed: “We enjoy very solid cooperation between the United Nations Organization and the Republic of Belarus. Cooperation involves environmental protection, transport, public private partnership, and trade. Belarus serves as a bridge between the European Union and the East, this is why we assist with economic development in this region since your country plays an important role in enhancing relations between the East and the West.”

Speaking about the state of affairs in environmental protection, Christian Friis Bach noted that Belarus had recently acceded to five conventions on environmental protection. “Those are not only matters concerning environmental protection but also better living standards for people. We are working on increasing the quality of water, air. We are making preparations to handle problems connected with industrial accidents and catastrophes. We are enabling conditions to allow people to improve the state of the environment at the local level,” he explained.

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe went on saying: “Cooperation in environmental affairs benefits not only Belarus but us as well since Belarusian delegates take an active part in our conventions and other events. These mutual relations are based on friendship and cooperation.”