MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) - Belarusian MPs would like to develop bilateral trusting relations with European colleagues leaving behind the institute of special rapporteur, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich told the media on 11 December, BelTA has learned.
The Council of the Republic is actively working to step up contacts with colleagues from European countries on a bilateral basis and to move away from the so-called special rapporteurs and special commissions, said Mikhail Myasnikovich. Specially authorized officials do not always provide objective assessments of developments, he stated.
“Bilateral cooperation provides for more opportunities to adopt the best practices and present objective information on the situation in the country and the tasks that need to be addressed,” Mikhail Myasnikovich stressed. He called the development of contacts on a bilateral basis as one of the top priorities in the international activity of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.
The Council of the Republic is hosting a seminar on the development of associations of local councils of deputies. It is attended by members of the Council of the Republic, senators and lawmakers, local authorities.
By agreement with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament invited the best experts on local government issues, including the development of associations of local councils. Experts will present the European experience of local government in the countries of the Council of Europe, update on the environment of associations of local authorities on the example of Denmark, England, Bulgaria, Serbia and other countries. Recommendations on the development of associations of local governments in Belarus will be presented as well.
Following the discussions, proposals will be developed to improve the effectiveness of such associations in Belarus. There are two of them in the country: in Mogilev Oblast and Grodno Oblast. Cooperation in this format is aimed at coordinating the activities of local councils of deputies in the development of the territorial, financial, economic, organizational and legal foundations for local self government. This helps them to address local issues, taking into account the interests and needs of the population of a particular region.
The event has been organized as part of the work of the council on interaction of local self-government bodies under the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.
