Ryzhenkov: strengthening and unity of Global Majority is response to illegal Western sanctions
Strengthening of the Global Majority is a common global response to illegal sanctions pressure from the West – as noted by Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov in his conversation with reporters on the side-lines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly
Photo: video screenshot
The Foreign Minister stressed, “The topic of illegal sanctions was the dominant theme in all our negotiations, including with colleagues from other countries. We reached an understanding that illegal unilateral measures are aimed at curbing the development of states, preventing access to material resources and technologies, and affecting the movement of citizens. Sanctions today affect a huge number of countries: about 2.5 million people. A bloc of states has formed, and they defend the topic of countering these measures on various platforms. This issue was also mentioned in our speeches in support of the UN Charter, which openly declares the illegality of such measures. We referred to the topic at the General Assembly as well. Our European partners were listening to us ‘very attentively.”
Strengthening of the Global Majority is a common global response to this challenge, even for those who have not yet been affected by sanctions. Mr. Ryzhenkov explained, “I am saying ‘not yet’, because the West will not survive without sanctions. It needs to restrain the development of all states, because this is the only way it can survive today, having got used to live off others. Our response is based on unity, strengthening the institutional foundations of the organisations we are members of, and implementing joint projects.”
In this regard, the Foreign Minister noted that the main response of Belarus to the sanctions pressure is to improve openness (which has already been done by introducing a visa-free regime) and to ensure further development of the organisations in which full membership has been created and Belarus’ voice will be heard: SCO, BRICS, EAEU, CIS, and others.
