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UN commissioner for refugees describes cooperation with Belarus as excellent

Cooperation between the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Belarus is excellent, Commissioner Antonio Guterres told reporters in Minsk on July 29, as quoted by BelaPAN.

Cooperation is deepening, he said.

On Wednesday, the commissioner put his signature to an agreement on cooperation and the legal status of the organization`s office in Minsk. The signing ceremony followed his talks with Belarusian Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashow.

Mr. Guterres said that he had met with Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the foreign and interior ministers and the chairman of the State Border Committee to “have an overview about different aspects of our cooperation and how we can intensify it in the future.”

He described Belarus’ attitude to the protection of refugees as very positive. “The government’s policy is favorable toward asylum, and the attitude of the people is extremely tolerant,” he said.

“The example of tolerance given by the people of Belarus is of primary importance in today’s world,” he noted.

Mr. Guterres also commented on “solid” cooperation with governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, noting that the UN fully supported Belarus’ proposal for better coordination of fight against human trafficking within the UN.

The Office has provided roughly $7 million for projects in Belarus since 1995.