Events

MINSK, 8 June (BelTA) – Belarus is sincerely interested in expanding constructive cooperation with the PACE, spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Mironchik told a press briefing on 8 June, BelTA has learned.

Dmitry Mironchik voiced the country’s position on Andrea Rigoni’s draft report on the situation in Belarus, which is available on the PACE website.

“We are sincerely interested in expanding constructive cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this regard, we welcome the draft resolution and the decisions laid out in it on the need to continue the relations between the parties, to invite Belarusian MPs to meetings of the PACE Commission, to lift the restrictions on high-level contacts with Belarus. We also support the position contained in the draft resolution on the need to develop cooperation between Belarus and the European Union,” Dmitry Mironchik said.

He noted that in 2015-2016, the Belarusian Parliament was engaged in an active dialogue with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on a number of issues: elections, death penalty, freedom of media. Belarusian MPs participated in the events of the thematic meetings of the PACE Commission and the Assembly. In 2015-2016, for the first time since 2001, Belarus invited PACE to observe the presidential and parliamentary elections in the country, though it is not a member of the Council of Europe.

“We are confident that the steps taken by Belarus within the framework of the dialogue with the Council of Europe obviously deserve a positive mention that, unfortunately, is not fully reflected in the draft report. We hope that the political wisdom of the PACE members and their interest in strengthening cooperation with Belarusian colleagues will encourage a constructive review of Andrea Rigoni’s draft report during the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly,” Dmitry Mironchik said.