Republic

UN member states support Belarus’ call to respect diversity of national development

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the United Nations member states unanimously supported the Belarusian initiative on the necessity to respect diversity of social systems, cultures and ways of national development of different countries at the meeting on inter-religious dialogue and cooperation for peace in the UN Headquarters. A relevant statement was issued, BelTA learnt in the permanent representative office of the Republic of Belarus at the United Nations Organization. Attending the meeting was Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov. In his address to the participants of the meeting he spoke about the efforts made by Belarus to strengthen inter-religious and ethnic tolerance basing on the socially oriented policy. Sergei Martynov placed a special stress on the necessity to recognize and promote the ideas of diversity of progressive ways of development as an important factor of maintaining international peace and security. This idea was first voiced by the President of Belarus at the UN Summit in September 2005. Then it was repeated at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 2005. Among other measures which according to the Belarusian side should be taken at the international level to promote inter-religious dialogue and understanding, Sergei Martynov listed extending student and professor exchanges, using latest information technologies, raising accountability of mass media. During the visit to New York the Belarusian Foreign Minister met with his counterparts from Jordan, Costa Rica, Kuwait and the Republic of South Africa to discuss bilateral trade-economic cooperation, extending legal base and enhancing cooperation within the United Nations.