Lukashenko, Guterres talked at BRICS Summit, agreeing that peace is badly needed now
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has held talks with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the side-lines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan today
In the beginning of their meeting, Aleksandr Lukashenko presented the UN Secretary General with a sculpture of storks who symbolise peace. “It is a symbol of peace: our storks. We, Antonio, really need peace,” the Belarusian leader said.
During the conversation, the Head of State also congratulated Antonio Guterres on ‘a wonderful feature’, “Over my political life, I have seen more than one [UN] Secretary General, but this is the first time I am witnessing such determination. You are the first Secretary General who has openly and honestly stated his position on key issues on the international agenda. You should know that your position on the Middle East issue is not just in harmony with ours: it is absolutely supported by the leadership of Belarus, including me.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko assured, “You should know that we will always be with you, as far as peace and war are concerned. We advocate peace, peaceful negotiations and peaceful resolution of any conflict.”
In turn, Antonio Guterres shared his personal pain with the President of Belarus: he admitted that the day before he had to go through the most difficult hours of his life as UN Secretary General. “Our colleagues in the Middle East asked for an urgent meeting. Yesterday [October 23rd], a drone hit a car belonging to the UNRWA mission and killed the driver. At the UN office in Lebanon, a drone got so close to the building that the windows flew out," Antonio Guterres shared the details.
In addition, the UN had to suspend the vaccination programme in Northern Gaza, where just one hospital currently operates. Antonio Guterres also touched upon the situation of the UN mission in Lebanon. “Our people are going through very difficult times. Nevertheless, they will continue their work to provide as much humanitarian aid as they can," he stressed.
