MINSK, 4 February (BelTA) – In 2021, Belarus expects to welcome high-level delegations from Moldova, Austria, and Switzerland and send parliamentary delegations to Egypt and Serbia, Andrei Savinykh, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on International Affairs of the House of Representatives, told reporters, BelTA has learned.
The Council of the House of Representatives convened for a meeting on 4 February to review the draft plan of international parliamentary cooperation of the House of Representatives for 2021.
According to Andrei Savinykh, Belarus will continue active cooperation with international parliamentary organizations that our country is party to, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the CIS IPA, the parliamentary assemblies of the OSCE, CSTO, and the Central European Initiative.
Belarus will also advance bilateral cooperation with parliaments of other countries. Due to the epidemiological situation, some of such events will move online. Thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to held web-based events to a high standard, Andrei Savinykh noted. In addition, online events are less expensive.
“However, online communication will never substitute face-to-face contacts. This is why we are also planning to arrange visits of parliamentary delegations,” Andrei Savinykh added. “For example, plans are in place to send a Belarusian parliamentary delegation to Egypt and Serbia. We are looking forward to to host high-level Moldovan, Austrian, and Swiss delegations. Parliamentary friendship groups will also work to organize joint events,” he added.
At the same time, Belarus will continue sorting out its priorities in international relations and exploring themes for interparliamentary cooperation and projects that could be advanced with the help of MPs. Plans are in place to hold consultations featuring experts and representatives of relevant bodies and business circles to discuss cooperation with various regions (Africa, Latin America, and so on). Belarus will also organize sectoral consultations and other events dedicated to certain areas of economy, regional development, etc.
Photos by Andrei Pokumeiko
