Opinions & Interviews

Belarusian MPs now more actively monitor foreign elections

MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) – Parliamentarians from Belarus now take a more active part in monitoring elections in other countries. The information was released by Mr Viktor Guminsky, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, at a conference of representatives of working groups of the National Assembly for cooperation with foreign parliaments on 23 January, BelTA has learned.

“I should say that our activity in this regard has increased,” said Viktor Guminsky referring to election monitoring. He added that Belarusian monitors had not participated in missions of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly before. “We have come to the conclusion that it is wrong and now we send our observers as part of OSCE missions,” explained the vice speaker. In his words, the MPs that take part in OSCE missions bring back very interesting information every time and sometimes the information contradicts some widely accepted beliefs.

Belarusian MPs also continue taking part in the monitoring of elections as part of missions of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia and so on. Viktor Guminsky remarked that such trips are used to promote bilateral cooperation. A total of 50 working groups have been set up in the National Assembly of Belarus to maintain bilateral contacts with parliaments of other countries. There are two interparliamentary commissions, which cooperate with Ukrainian and Armenian colleagues.

Apart from that, as many as 13 permanent delegations have been created to work in interparliamentary bodies, including the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Viktor Guminsky added that a visit of the Belarusian delegation led by Chairman of the House of Representatives Mr Vladimir Andreichenko to Cambodia is being prepared and in addition to interparliamentary cooperation it will touch upon other things. Matters concerning interaction in the sphere of economy will be handled. Relevant agreements between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cambodian side are expected to be signed.

In turn, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mr Anatoly Rusetsky also underlined the importance of promoting bilateral cooperation. In his words, it is also possible to work together with the parliaments, for which cooperation groups are unavailable, and it is possible to establish contacts with the countries that are unwilling to have relations with Belarus for now. “I am not going to name the countries, but I think that it should be done. It is necessary to have contacts and the relevant work plans. And it is very important for us to establish and normalize relations with these countries,” said Anatoly Rusetsky. He also reminded that despite the advancement of cooperation with Russia in the Union State of Belarus and Russia the problem of the access of Belarusian companies to Russian defense purchases has yet to be addressed.

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