Opinions & Interviews

MP: Belarus’ voice should be heard on international arena

Andrei Savinykh

MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) –  Belarus’ position on topical issues of the international agenda should be heard, MP Andrei Savinykh said addressing the House of Representatives on 11 December, BelTA has learned.

Andrei Savinykh was nominated to the position of the chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs. Speaking at the Oval Hall, the MP urged to develop mechanisms that will enable the parliament to respond promptly to major international developments. “The position of Belarus on the most topical issues of the international agenda should be heard,” he said.

The MP emphasized that the primary task for MPs is to develop and improve the legal framework in the field of foreign policy and foreign economic relations. “I suggest focusing on Belarus accession to the World Trade Organization. This is a complex and comprehensive topic that will help build a better understanding of the existing terms of access for Belarusian goods to the international market, in particular against the backdrop of increasing trade wars. This will enable us to initiate amendments and addenda to the national legislation with a view to increasing competitiveness of Belarusian products, companies and the domestic economy in general,” he said.

Andrei Savinykh emphasized that Belarus has a series of long-term strategic political initiatives that were put forward by the president, the parliament and the foreign ministry. Among them is the proposal to launch the Helsinki-2 process, to strengthen trust and security in Europe and Asia, as well as resolutions for the UN General Assembly. “I believe that we should actively propagate these ideas, these positions from the rostrum of the Interparliamentary Union, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. We should step up our activities in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and in Latin America,” he said.

Cooperation with the inter-parliamentary organizations in the post-Soviet space should remain a priority. “We need to be actively involved in the development and consolidation of the Eurasian Economic Union, its unconditional recognition in the world. A multi-polar world is already taking shape. This will be a world of pan-regions. It is of paramount importance for us to make sure that Belarus can count on fair terms in our region,” Andrei Savinykh said.

Promotion of bilateral cooperation with parliaments of other states also remains an important area of activity. “This work should be targeted, pragmatic and result-oriented with the ultimate goal of promoting social and economic development of Belarus,” Andrei Savinykh said.

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