The statement of the Deputy Permanent Representative of Belarus V.Pisarevich at the special session of the Executive Committee of the World Health Organization

Mr. Chairman,

The delegation of Belarus would like to extend appreciation to the WHO secretariat for preparing the draft GPW-13 for 2019-2023 and the relevant draft concept.

We want to share some of our key observations by touching upon three points, namely, the document’s overall strategic orientation, its substantive elements, and procedure.

First, a few words about its strategic orientation.

We welcome the draft’s key focus on impact rather than on process and output as used to be the case throughout the UN system before. Indeed, in an era when we committed ourselves “to leaving no one behind”, it is the only right approach to pursue.

Likewise, we commend the WHO for seeking to align its future 5-year strategy with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and other documents of the Transformative Agenda.

What is more, we fully support the WHO’s intention to reorient itself towards a country-centered Organization.

Second, with regard to substance, in general we see no major problem with the document. Yet, in our view, there should be some room for amendments.

In particular, we support a differentiated approach to countries proposed in the document. At the same time we think that the interests of middle-income countries, which, by the way, include more than 100 states, have not been adequately reflected. In particular, we would like to suggest that the WHO specifies how it plans to work with this large group via different forms like policy dialogue, strategic support and technical assistance.

Finally, a word on procedure.

Belarus welcomes broad consultations organized by the WHO in the run up to the preparation of the draft GPW-13. We think that the consultations should be followed by an inter-governmental process within which Member States will negotiate the draft GPW-13 and submit an agreed text to the World Health Assembly for its endorsement in May 2018.

Thank you.

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