Belarus thanks UN for expert support in environmental protection matters

Belarus highly appreciates the ability to get expert support from the United Nations Organization for the sake of developing the country’s environmental protection potential. The opinion was voiced by Belarusian First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Iya Malkina as she met with UN Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo, BelTA has learned.

“Monitoring the state of environmental components is particularly important for Belarus, in particular, in the area around the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. In this context we are thankful for the ability to get expert support from the UN in matters concerning the development of Belarus’ environmental protection potential,” said Iya Malkina. She went on saying that Belarus’ national strategy documents identify matters concerning relations between the state of the environment and human health as priorities.

In turn, UN Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo pointed out the considerable results achieved by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry and Belarus on the whole in the work on the problem of protecting the country’s ecology. “Your accomplishments are impressive. It is my first visit to Belarus but I have learned already that last year your country passed a national strategic development plan that specifies clear and comprehensive goals. I have to admit that along with the most advanced nations Belarus is ahead of the entire international community, which is still only debating the adoption of programs related to sustainable development,” said Wu Hongbo.

The UN Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs stressed that he was glad to see the tight and fruitful cooperation between Belarus and the UN on topical matters.