By Sharon Tawuya
Harare, (New Ziana )— Belarus has congratulated Zimbabwe on its election to the United Nations Security Council, describing the overwhelming support received during the vote as a reflection of growing international confidence in the country’s role in global affairs.
The country was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council earlier this month for a two-year term beginning next January.
Speaking after meeting Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda on Wednesday, Belarus ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yury Nikalaichyk said his country was proud to have supported Zimbabwe’s successful bid for a seat on the UN’s most powerful decision-making body.
“Belarus is proud that we firmly supported this bid, and we are proud that Zimbabwe gained almost 100 percent support during the vote in the United Nations General Assembly,” ambassador Nikalaichyk said.
The envoy said he had conveyed congratulations to Speaker Mudenda and, through him, to the people of Zimbabwe on the landmark diplomatic achievement.
Beyond the UN Security Council election, ambassador Nikalaichyk described his discussions with Speaker Mudenda as “very productive” and “very open”, covering a broad range of issues aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Zimbabwe.
He said the meeting provided an opportunity to receive first-hand impressions from Mudenda’s recent visit to Belarus, where he met Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeenko and participated in an international conference in Brest representing the ruling ZANU PF party.
According to the envoy, the two sides reviewed progress in inter-parliamentary cooperation, relations between the ruling parties and initiatives to strengthen people-to-people exchanges through tourism and educational programmes.
Discussions also focused on expanding economic cooperation, particularly in agricultural mechanisation, food security, energy and healthcare.
The diplomat said the two sides exchanged views on improving legislative frameworks to facilitate investment and business cooperation, including progress on the ratification of bilateral agreements.
He said attention was also given to a proposed Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and measures to simplify trade arrangements between Zimbabwe and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Nikalaichyk said that he had presented Speaker Mudenda with an outline on a Belarusian initiative to launch negotiations on a preferential trade agreement between Zimbabwe and the Eurasian Economic Union.
He expressed confidence that continued engagement between the two countries would help advance the objectives contained in the bilateral roadmap of strategic partnership signed during President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to Belarus last year.
He said the implementation-focused approach adopted by both governments would further strengthen ties and deliver tangible benefits for the people of the two countries.
New Ziana
