At informal meeting of UN General Assembly, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN, Andrei Dapkiunas, calls on UN Secretariat to consider implementing a ‘one stop-shop’ principle in interaction with member states
The United Nations General Assembly has held an informal meeting to consider ways and means of enhancing co-operation between Permanent Missions and the Secretariat of the United Nations at the UN Headquarters in New York. Along with many other speakers, Andrei Dapkiunas called on the UN Secretariat to consider implementing a ‘one stop-shop’ principle in its interaction with member states’ missions (as is widespread and actively encouraged in national government practice in Belarus).
Mr. Dapkiunas noted the importance of the Secretariat involving permanent missions at the UN, to develop rules and regulations relating to logistical issues. He drew attention to the need to implement principles of good governance and gave a number of examples of illogical and awkward UN regulations governing the working environment for diplomatic staff of permanent missions. The Head of the Belarusian Mission to New York emphasised ways of improving the situation for diplomatic missions and the UN Secretariat.
Belarus’ proposals stress the need to maintain a constant and unimpeded channel of daily communication between permanent missions to the UN and the Secretariat, regarding conference management, public information, protocol, security, charging practices and other issues.
Mr. Dapkiunas underlined the need to ensure diligent and timely implementation by the UN Secretariat of mandates agreed by the General Assembly, while preventing actions and initiatives by UN executive offices based on incorrect interpretation of mandates. Such occurrences harm the atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding.
The meeting was initiated by Belarus with the support of the Non-Aligned Movement and was the first such to be discussed at the General Assembly.
By Mikhail Fedotov
