Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov takes part in High-Level Week of 81st Session of UN General Assembly (Day 4)

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov takes part in High-Level Week of 81st Session of UN General Assembly (Day 4)

On 25 September 2026, in New York, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, took part in ministerial meetings held within the framework of the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Delivering a statement at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, Maxim Ryzhenkov detailed Belarus's national experience in overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had proven its efficacy in practice.

The head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry criticised the protectionist and isolationist policies pursued by the West during that period, which had disrupted transport and logistics chains and fostered a monopoly over vaccine development and the control of their distribution.

Maxim Ryzhenkov called for the codification of international commitments prohibiting the imposition of any restrictions on the supply of medical goods during public health emergencies.

The Minister advocated global health solidarity, underscoring that it must find expression in the timely exchange of information, joint scientific research, and the enhancement of epidemiological surveillance.

Addressing the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the Belarusian Foreign Minister commended the Alliance's substantial contribution towards fostering inter-civilisational dialogue, conducting cultural exchanges, and bringing youth from diverse nations closer together.

Maxim Ryzhenkov highlighted the ongoing clash of civilisations, deliberately cultivated by the West to destabilise the nations of the Global Majority through the instigation of warfare, the stoking of regional conflicts, and the deployment of unilateral coercive measures.

In this context, the Minister recalled the initiative championing the recognition of the diversity of pathways to progressive development, put forward by the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, at the 2005 UN World Summit.

The head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry apprised participants of the country's domestic achievements in promoting cultural and religious diversity.

Maxim Ryzhenkov stressed that it was unacceptable for certain members of the Group to pursue policies grounded in dictate, threats, and unlawful sanctions. In this regard, the Minister called for the abandonment of double standards, which fuel civilisational friction, as well as the renunciation of unilateral coercive measures in international relations.

Addressing the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group of Supporters of Middle-Income Countries, the head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry underlined the vital role this category of states plays in sustaining global stability and development.

Maxim Ryzhenkov noted the imperative of mutual support across various items on the international agenda, voiced firm opposition to unilateral coercive measures and illicit secondary sanctions, and called for the creation of fair and equitable conditions for cooperation among all nations without exception.

Participating in the high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) convened by China, the Minister expressed support for the steps undertaken by the Chinese side to ensure sustainable development worldwide, including the provision of vital assistance to nations sharing the objectives and principles of the Initiative. Maxim Ryzhenkov reaffirmed Belarus's commitment to close Belarusian-Chinese cooperation within this framework.

The Belarusian delegation also took part in a meeting of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations. The representative of Belarus stressed the necessity of upholding the norms of international law and redoubling international efforts to ensure compliance with the provisions of the UN Charter. The diplomat urged the utilisation of multifaceted channels of engagement among UN Member States to build confidence and mitigate the potential for global conflict.

Speaking at an event convened on the initiative of the President of Ghana and devoted to advancing international cooperation on the restitution of cultural property and heritage, the Belarusian delegation endorsed the endeavours of African states to repatriate cultural artefacts, secure historical justice, and obtain redress for damage inflicted during the colonial era. The Belarusian representative proposed expanding international efforts in this sphere through scientific and historical communities, as well as museums, archives, and libraries. The Belarusian initiative to restore indigenous names to geographical entities across African nations generated keen interest and was received with broad support.

Furthermore, on the same day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus conducted a series of bilateral engagements.

Maxim Ryzhenkov met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. The head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the Secretary-General for his support of Belarus's peace initiatives. The Secretary-General, in turn, commended Belarus's contribution to the work of the United Nations.

Talks with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, focused on prospects for the implementation of WHO projects in Belarus, including matters of access to pharmaceutical procurement through international platforms, professional training programmes, and the application of expertise concerning the health effects of radiation.

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, the cordial nature of relations between the leaders of the two states was acknowledged with satisfaction.

The parties reviewed prospects for executing joint ventures involving Omani investment, including the establishment of assembly plants for Belarusian machinery, as well as projects in the fields of food production and infant formula.

The interlocutors addressed the implementation of cultural and educational exchanges, including forthcoming performance tours by Belarusian and Omani artistic troupes and inter-university partnership programmes.

The Ministers noted the upward trend in tourist flows and the growing interest among Omani nationals in accessing medical services in Belarus, underscoring in this regard the importance of ongoing efforts to inaugurate direct air connections between the two countries.

Sayyid Badr Albusaidi announced the appointment of Oman's first-ever Ambassador resident in Minsk and his imminent arrival in Belarus.

In the course of negotiations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Maka Botchorishvili, both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in their bilateral political dialogue over the past one and a half year.

The interlocutors noted the positive momentum in trade and economic engagement, highlighting the critical role played by the bilateral intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.

The Ministers exchanged views on the situation in the region and emphasised the necessity of sustaining dialogue across multilateral platforms.

The parties observed with satisfaction the growth in mutual tourist flows and the intensification of people-to-people contacts between the two nations.

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