Events

MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko instructed the MPs to take a principled approach to the consideration of the draft law on 2017 budget, Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko told media after his meeting with the head of state on 19 September, BelTA has learned.

According to Vladimir Andreichenko, the regular session of the fifth-convocation House of Representatives will open on 3 October. “We plan to consider more than 20 issues during this session. The key issue is the draft law on the national budget for 2017. The President stressed that the MPs should take a principled approach to the consideration of this important document,” he noted.

According to the Chairman of the House of Representatives, the draft law on the budget is under consideration in permanent commissions. An expanded-participation meeting of the permanent commission on budget and finance has already been held. The zero reading is scheduled for 21 September with the participation of the Prime Minister and government representatives. “We will consider the issues which have not been yet coordinated and take into account proposals and remarks of the local authorities and MPs,” Vladimir Andreichenko said. He added that the draft law is expected to be adopted by the MPs of the fifth convocation.

The meeting also focused on the organization of the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic which is due on 7 October. “The President of Belarus plans to take part in the meeting. The participants of the meeting will assess the work of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic and outline tasks for the new parliament,” the Speaker of the House of Representatives said.

Vladimir Andreichenko also updated the head of state on the preparations for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session which is due to be held in Belarus in 2017. Partaking in the session will be representatives of 57 states. Alexander Lukashenko instructed the Belarusian parliament to conduct all necessary organizational works for the event to be held at a high level.