Belarus proposed to adopt long-term UN strategy for middle-income countries

The presence of a strong middle class for middle-income countries is the best guarantor of a country’s peace, stability and prosperity – as noted by Belarus’ Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik during his speech at the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Like-Minded Group for Middle-Income Countries, which was held within the framework of the UN General Assembly

photo: www.mfa.gov.by

He also added that the same logic may be applied in the international context, “Indeed, when the number of countries interested in the international system increases, then this system will be more prone to peace, stability and prosperity. States are more likely to be considered interested when they reach a middle-income category characterised by greater respect and greater influence. This is why the topic of middle-income countries is so important to all of us.”

However, the FM noted that in our troubled world there are many other seemingly pressing problems, such as geopolitical tensions, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, which inexorably push the topic of middle-income countries into the background. However, the Like-Minded Group is doing everything possible to prevent such a development, “Middle-income countries are a very diverse group of countries. They face many and varied challenges. The very fact of the diversity of these problems suggests that there cannot be ‘universal solutions’. A nuanced approach is required, taking into account the peculiarities of each country. The best way to achieve this goal is to adopt a comprehensive long-term UN strategy for middle-income countries.”

“Let me remind you that middle-income countries are the only large group of countries in the UN that do not have such a strategic document,” said Sergei Aleinik.

He also added that the idea of a comprehensive strategy was first voiced fifteen years ago in the Windhoek Declaration, adopted at an international conference in support of middle-income countries in Namibia. According to the Belarusian representative, the time has come to bring this idea to life.