MINSK, 25 April (BelTA) – An international conference on local self-government will take place in Minsk. Representatives of the Council of Europe are expected to partake in the event. The forum's organization was discussed as Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich met with Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Jean-Philippe Bozouls on 25 April, the press service of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament told BelTA.
Mikhail Myasnikovich noted during the meeting that Jean-Philippe Bozouls' visit to Belarus would allow addressing all the necessary matters concerning the agenda, the date, and the venue for organizing the conference. “It will begin our work as part of the preparations for this responsible event together with bodies of the Council of Europe,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. Positive dynamics in Belarus' interaction with the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities had emerged in these matters. “It is reassuring. We count on a constructive dialogue. No doubt, we have a great deal of interesting ideas and proposals,” stressed Mikhail Myasnikovich.
The head of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament also pointed out that the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly always keeps an eye on local self-government matters. An out session of the council for cooperation of local self-government bodies will take place in Slavgorod, Mogilev Oblast on 26 April. The session will focus on bolstering the role of local self-government bodies in tackling social and economic development matters.
There are differences in the work of local self-government bodies in Belarus and in countries of the Council of Europe. “Ours are primarily focused on assisting citizens with resolving routine problems at the local level. Those are matters of healthcare, education, the observance of occupational safety regulations by employers, assistance with finding jobs, and other things,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. He remarked that local self-government bodies in Europe are a political structure to a larger extent. “It does not matter so much to us whether social democrats or republicans are represented in local self-government bodies. Getting the job done is what matters.” The senator also said he was confident that the visit and negotiations in Minsk would allow the European delegation to learn more about Belarus.
Jean-Philippe Bozouls told media that during the meeting they had discussed details of organization of the forthcoming conference in Minsk. “The Council of Europe will be represented by the president of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, representatives of the monitoring commission, and the commission in charge of implementing the Local Self-Government Charter, representatives of the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions,” he said. The director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe noted that cooperation with Belarus on these matters had been going on for four years already. He said he was confident that the conference would help advance cooperation between the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus.
After meeting with Mikhail Myasnikovich Jean-Philippe Bozouls held negotiations in the council for cooperation of local self-government bodies.
