Alexander Lukashenko said that this is not the first time Mr Christian Friis Bach is visiting Belarus and it is very important as he has developed his own opinion about Belarus.

With regard to the Economic Commission for Europe, which unites 56 states, Alexander Lukashenko said: “Your projects and research in many fields, especially in economy, environment, innovations, transport, construction, social services, public-private partnerships contribute greatly to the development of national programs in the relevant areas.”

“It is a pleasure for me to meet with you because you are strongly committed to these activities, concerned about protecting the environment,” the head of state noted.

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the theme of environmental protection. “Of course, we attach great importance to these issues. An international agreement was concluded in Paris. This is a great victory, including for the Economic Commission for Europe that made a great contribution. But still we have probably not yet realized fully what might happen to the planet and humanity if we continue to disregard these issues, if we do not apply a systemic approach to many issues, including the areas that the ECE is engaged in. So we have a very long way ahead of us,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

The Belarus President stated that there is a need to ensure safe life on the planet. “This applies to the life of the man who depends on the economy and also the air he breathes, on the environment. For me personally, it is an absolute priority,” he stressed.