Taking part in the 33rd session of the UN Committee on Information, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh submitted a proposal to reform the information activity of the United Nations, to raise efficiency. In particular, he noted the need for detailed regional information activity strategies; these should take into account specific social and economic development priorities, while ensuring public support for the practical work of local UN institutions.
Belarus believes that the operation of the UN Department of Public Information should be organised in such a way that each country’s media gains access to UN global information sources, so they can disseminate information on its activities effectively. Mr. Savinykh stressed the need to ensure equal use of all UN official languages for television, radio and Internet broadcasts.
The United Nations’ interaction with the media and academic institutions of Belarus was discussed by Mr. Savinykh and Kiyotaka Akasaka, the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. The two exchanged views on the most promising forms of co-operation, aimed at involving the Belarusian media in UN information services.
The UN Committee on Information brings together 113 UN member states and holds its annual sessions in New York in late April-early May, discussing the efficiency of the UN’s information activities. The Committee’s members made suggestions regarding the UN website and UN radio development strategy, with particular attention paid to improving the efficiency of UN information centres located in member states.
