Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) - Belarus will assist the productive discussion at the OSCE PA summer session in Minsk, Belarus’ Permanent Representative in the OSCE Alena Kupchyna said at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, BelTA learned from the Belarusian embassy in Austria.

The OSCE’s distinct advantage is its well-developed parliamentary component. “Inter-parliamentary contacts are the very “breeding ground” which gives rise to important constructive decisions that help address interstate disagreements and contradictions. We are, first of all, aimed at such a constructive and productive discussion at the 2017 summer session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk,” said Alena Kupchyna.

Strengthening of mutual trust and cooperation depends directly on human contacts. Their development is impossible without securing one of the fundamental freedoms and the vital constituent of the OSCE human dimension which is the right for the freedom of travel. “Belarus has repeatedly voiced the benefit of expanding human contacts, simplifying visa regulations and liberalizing the freedom of movement. The decree signed on 9 January to establish a visa-free entry to Belarus via Minsk National Airport for citizens of 80 countries (half of them being the OSCE member states) testifies to the fact,” Alena Kupchyna stressed.

Austria has assumed the OSCE chairmanship for 2017. The Belarus’ Permanent Representative wished Austria successful presidency and assured that Belarus would support Austria’s efforts in strengthening security and stability in the OSCE zone.