Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations is elected as a Vice-President of the UN Economic and Social Council
19.10.2018On October 19, 2018, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) elected the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations, Valentin Rybakov to the post of a Vice-President of the ECOSOC for the year 2018/2019.
On the eve of the elections, the candidature of Belarus to the ECOSOC Bureau was unanimously endorsed by the Members of the Eastern European Group.
Background information: the Economic and Social Council is one of the main UN bodies and a central body in the United Nations system in promoting all three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. The Council is responsible for promoting the improvement of living standards, identifying ways to resolve international problems in the economic and social fields, and promoting universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The ECOSOC comprises of 54 States that are elected by the General Assembly for three years on a geographic basis. Six countries represent the region of Eastern Europe. Belarus was elected to this authoritative UN body for the period 2018-2020. The President of the ECOSOC and four Vice-President are elected from among Members of the Council in accordance with equal geographical representation.
According to the rotation, the President of the Council is the representative of the Latin American Group, the Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The current Bureau of the Council also includes Permanent Representatives of Norway, Morocco and the Philippines.
The term of this composition of the ECOSOC Bureau ends on July 24, 2019, the date of the conclusion of the 2019 Council session.
The election of the Belarusian representative to the ECOSOC Bureau confirms the high level of confidence of the Council Member States in Belarus, its authority in the international arena as an active and consistent supporter of sustainable development.
