The UN Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management Muhammad Shaaban was in Minsk from 17 to 19 January 2010.

He came to Belarus to sign a Memorandum of understanding between the UN Secretariat and the Minsk State Linguistic University. It sets out that the UN Secretariat will render the University a consultative and technical support by way of sending teaching materials and trainers.

On 18 January, Muhammad Shaaban met with Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov. They said they were pleased with growing co-operation between the Minsk State Linguistic University and the UN Secretariat and noted its importance for both sides.