Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus S.Aleinik meets the Regional Director of IOM and the Deputy Director of UNHCR Office for Europe

On November 23, 2021 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Aleinik, met with the Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Renate Held, and the Deputy Director of Bureau for Europe of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Angela Li Rosi.

During the meeting, the parties confirmed mutual interest in maintaining and further developing interaction between the Republic of Belarus, on the one hand, and IOM and UNHCR, on the other. 

The interlocutors also exchanged views on the situation with refugees and migrants who, on their way to the countries of the European Union, were trapped at the border of Belarus with Poland. 

Representatives of international organizations informed about the opportunities available within their mandates to assist in resolving crisis situations with refugees and migrants, including their voluntary return to homeland and family reunification in the EU and other states. The sides confirmed mutual intention to continue providing humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants together with the Belarusian partners. 

The Deputy Minister noted the significant contribution of the UNHCR and IOM to humanitarian support of refugees and migrants and expressed hope for the continuation of this cooperation. S.Aleinik called upon international organizations to interact with the Polish side and the EU, which until now remain indifferent to the requests of refugees and migrants waiting to enter the European Union.
 

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