Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus I.Sekreta participates in high-level events at the UN Office in Geneva (Switzerland)

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus I.Sekreta participates in high-level events at the UN Office in Geneva (Switzerland)

On February 23, 2026 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Igor Sekreta, addressed the high-level segment of the UN Conference on Disarmament as part of his participation in high-level events at the UN Office in Geneva.

The Deputy Minister stated that amidst a deep crisis in the international security architecture, the collapse of arms control mechanisms, rising military-political tensions, and an unprecedented spike in military spending, Belarus remains committed to the principle of equal and indivisible security. He advocated for regional de-escalation, the restoration of responsible dialogue, and the development of new multilateral agreements in the field of arms control.

I.Sekreta emphasized that all measures taken by the Belarusian state in response to growing national security challenges are exclusively defensive in nature and are carried out in strict accordance with international law, including obligations regarding the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The Deputy Head of the Foreign Ministry confirmed Belarus's intention to actively promote initiatives at international venues to ban the development and production of new types of weapons of mass destruction and to strengthen the global disarmament architecture.

At a high-level meeting of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations (representing 19 states) held on the same day, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed the peaceful nature of Belarusian foreign policy, which supports the resolution of any conflict exclusively through peaceful dialogue and within the framework of international law.

I.Sekreta expressed solidarity with Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran, which are subjected to various forms of external pressure and threats, emphasizing the unacceptability of such actions.

The Belarusian representative called for strengthened cooperation to unite the global majority toward a complete cessation of the use of illegal unilateral coercive measures in international relations.

The Deputy Minister also met with the UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela.

The Belarusian diplomat welcomed the recent appointment of Barham Salih as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and conveyed a message of congratulations from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov.

The interlocutors discussed a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues, as well as specific aspects of the situation of refugees in the European region and the protection of their rights.

I.Sekreta drew the attention of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the problem of cruel treatment by the border services of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia toward individuals crossing their borders to enter the EU. He emphasized the politically motivated nature of these countries' refusal to cooperate with Belarus on border issues. He urged the UNHCR to keep this problem in focus and to facilitate the resumption of dialogue between the parties.

The Deputy Minister provided information on measures to improve the national asylum system and practical steps taken to assist refugees and protect their rights. He expressed gratitude to the UNHCR for its long-standing support of the Belarusian state's efforts.

The parties also discussed prospects for joint projects regarding the health of refugees and displaced persons and confirmed their mutual intention to continue constructive cooperation.

During a meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Tatiana Molcean, the sides discussed the implementation of the Russian-Belarusian initiative to develop Eurasian Railway Transport Corridor No. 1 and Belarus's participation in UNECE project activities.

I.Sekreta emphasized the importance of the UNECE fulfilling its mission of economic development and increasing regional transport connectivity in a depoliticized manner.

In this regard, I.Sekreta pointed out the European Commission's failure to meet its obligations under the European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR). The diplomat also drew T.Molcean's attention to the European Commission's unlawful attempts to interfere in a bilateral issue between Belarus and Lithuania concerning Lithuanian trucks that have been in Belarus since last October.

The Deputy Minister pointed out Poland's violations of UNECE environmental agreements during the construction of a barrier in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. He noted that Belarus expects appropriate decisions from the relevant UNECE bodies on this matter.

I.Sekreta called on the UNECE leadership to respond appropriately to the economic problems in the region caused by unilateral sanctions against UN member states.

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