The best time

Those who missed summertime usually plan to go on holidays in early fall: it′s neither hot nor cold. In a word, the best time. It′s different in politics — September is an activity month. The full house in UN headquarters in New York fell on September, too.

It is publicly known what where the topics of UN 60th session. The main topic of the summit was fighting terrorism. Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, signed International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism in New York and declared that cooperative resistance against this evil must be global, universal and consistent. Yet antiterrorism activity must be controlled and is best controlled with the participation of all world community members, he emphasized.

Conceptually, the 2005 summit was to assess UN progress towards objectives set forth at the Millennium summit. Those objectives were as follows: development of African states and global elimination of poverty, illiteracy and massive diseases. Neither has shown any significant progress so far.

The same applies to the idea of reforming UN Security Council. However, if we reduce it solely to Security Council, as many view it, it will mean we leave aside the problem of entire UN reorganization. Besides, after the corruption scandal UN is likely to varnish its reputation for a long time. Undoubtedly, Belarus is interested in strengthening UN influence. Alexander Lukashenko declared in New York: "I would like to see UN uniting nations and taking decisions obligatory for everyone. I welcome the strengthening of UN significance. This contributes to the good of countries like ours."

The summit means not only the general meeting. Alexander Lukashenko gave an interview to the Russian service of UN radio, conducted negotiations with Mahmud Ahmadi Nezhad, President of Iran, and met Dzhalal Talabani, President of Iraq; during this meeting the parties concluded that the long-term experience of cooperation between Minsk and Baghdad is worth continuation.

The 60th UN session is undoubtedly a significant event. Yet we also consider significant the fact that it′s been 10 years since representative office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees started in Minsk. Belarus and UNHCR have accumulated sufficient experience in helping people in trouble. In his interview to the magazine Ilya Todorovich, representative of UNHCR Office in Belarus, said: "This country has shelter system among the best in CIS and your country can be proud of its truly humane approach to migration management."

The origin of Belarusian literature is closely connected to Euphrosyne Polotskaya, Kiril Turowsky and Frantsysk Skaryna. The Day of Belarusian writing was held in Kamenets, small town near Belovezhskaya Pushcha, this September and constitutes another significant event we couldn′t miss.

What is considered wealth in Belarus? If you don′t know, we disclose this secret: forests. Modern Belarus is reasonably regarded as "green" republic. As the author states, forests are the indicator of country′s ecological and economic prosperity. Moreover, it appears that forests are the root of Belarusian mentality.

Yet let′s go back to the best timing. Belarus is attractive for tourists in September; however, it is equally attractive throughout the rest of the year. Our country can astonish a foreign visitor with its nature and hospitality of its citizens — the best time for hospitality is everlasting here.

Victor Kharkov

Editor of "Belarus"