MINSK, 17 May (BelTA) – Sergei Rachkov, Chairman of the International Affairs and National Security Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, was elected member of the Bureau of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) from the Eurasia geopolitical group. The elections took place on 17 May, BelTA has learned.
The meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security was held on the sidelines of the 142nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Belarus nominated three candidates to fill the vacancies in the Bureau of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security and the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young MPs.
The agenda of the meeting included the presentation of the draft resolution “Parliamentary strategies to strengthen peace and security against threats and conflicts resulting from climate-related disasters and their consequences (Standing Committee on Peace and International Security)” developed by Germany, Senegal and Sri Lanka.
The Belarusian parliamentarian supported the decisions across the entire agenda of the meeting. “Belarus is strongly committed to the transition to a low-carbon sustainable economy for the common cause of preventing global warming and mitigating the effects of climate change to make life better for today's and future generations. In order to overcome this global challenge and make the most of the existing potential for combating climate change, it is necessary to develop fair and acceptable criteria for access to international climate-related financial mechanisms and resources, including for middle-income countries,” Sergei Rachkov said.
The senator stressed that Belarus is actively involved in all international activities related to climate change. “We, signatories to the Paris Agreement, remain committed to implementing this document. Belarus is building an efficient system to save energy resources. We are now promoting electric transport, among other things. We produce excellent buses, and are working on an electric car. Our ambitious national project - the construction of a nuclear power plant - also makes a significant contribution to solving environmental problems, preserving the climate and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. The climate crisis puts countries in unequal conditions. Of course, poorer countries suffer significantly. Therefore, it is very important for the international community to join forces and provide assistance to such countries. Thus, we believe that parliamentarians, in particular, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, should pass legislation that will facilitate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and contribute to countering crises related to climate change,” the MP said.
Sergei Rachkov added that this is one of the key standing committees of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The work in this committee is believed to help promote Belarus' views on various topics, including peace and international security, as well as environment, climate crisis, the parliamentarian concluded.
On May 24-27 the IPU Governing Council will hold meetings and the debate titled “Overcoming the pandemic today and building a better tomorrow: the role of parliaments”, which will wrap up with the adoption of a resolution by the two standing committees, their reports and the final document of the assembly.
