Belarus hosts event to commemorate UN Charter Day

On June 26, 2020, a presentation of the UN Charter in Belarusian was held at the Loshitskaya Manor Museum to mark the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter.

The ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, Minsk History Museum Director Galina Ladisova, National Library Director General Roman Motulsky, ambassadors of Great Britain, US, France, Russia, and China - the countries whose representatives were the first signatories of UN Charter on June 26, 1945 in San-Francisco.

In his speech at the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei noted:

“UN Charter is some kind of cook book or a book of life hacks, which includes recipes for every occasion - the guidelines, which every modern diplomat and politician should follow when planning and building foreign policy of their country.

We want the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter to be not just beautiful words on paper whose validity cannot be challenged. They must have practical value and be the pillar of the international cooperation".

In her opening word UN Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki stated that the conflict prevention, fight for fundamental human rights, equality of men and women, economic and social progress in larger freedom – all of these closely interlinked human priorities and aspirations in the UN Charter are still valid today.

“One cannot be achieved without the other.  In particular, no true social progress can be achieved without respect for human rights, real equality, and without giving space to a diversity of voices and opinions.  We hear the call for respect of these universal values globally, and in Belarus.  We hear the call of the planet, desperately needing our attention,” emphasized Ms. Kazana-Wisniowiecki.

During the ceremony, the UN Charter, which was first published in the Republic of Belarus in the Belarusian language, was handed over to the funds of the National Library of Belarus.

Recording of the online broadcasting of the ceremony is available here.

Publishing of UN Charter in the Belarusian language was the part of the wide-scale campaign UN75 conducted to celebrate in the Republic of Belarus the 75th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations Organization.

Commemoration of the first International Delegate’s Day (April 25) established upon an initiative of Belarus by the UN General Assembly and opening of the historic photo exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the International San-Francisco Conference were conducted as part of the Plan of Joint Events signed by the Foreign Ministry of Belarus and UN Belarus in the Belarusian National History Museum in April.           

In April and May, nation-wide discussions involving Belarusian school and university students about UN role and future were conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Education in Minsk and all the regions of Belarus.

Citizens of Belarus can also vote for their own and UN future by taking part in a one-minute survey at www.un75.online.