Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus M.Ryzhenkov participates in high-level events in Geneva (third day)

On 26 February 2025, in Geneva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov spoke at the High-Level Segment of the UN Conference on Disarmament.

The head of Belarusian diplomacy sharply criticized the policy of militarization in the NATO member states, citing specific figures of their constantly growing military expenditures, which place an unbearable burden on the budgets of countries such as Latvia and Lithuania. Moreover, together with Poland, these neighboring countries constantly threaten the security of Belarus.

The Minister stressed that in such conditions Belarus is forced to respond to emerging military threats and increase its defensive potential. At the same time, our absolute priority is maximum investment in peaceful life and the well-being of the people.

As a peaceful state, Belarus has always proposed reducing military and political tensions through diplomacy and negotiations, including in Ukraine. In this regard, we welcome the dialogue that has begun between Russia and the United States, noted Maxim Ryzhenkov.

For its part, Minsk held two conferences on Eurasian security, open to all interested parties, and will continue this practice, creating the preconditions for restoring a fair, secure and sustainable architecture of international relations.

In conclusion of his speech, the Minister called on the international community, citing the words of the President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko: «to step back from the brink of the abyss: save the world from wars, revive civilized communication, preserve human values and pass on our common home into the safe hands of future generations».

Later that day, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, where they had a critical exchange of views on the human rights situation in the world. The Minister stressed that Belarus will continue to resist the manipulation of human rights instruments, which leads to the sharp deterioration of human rights in so-called mature democracies, while the OHCHR, against this sad background, focuses on countries that are undesirable to the West, including Belarus.

The Minister invited the High Commissioner to visit Belarus to personally see the real human rights situation in the country.

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