MINSK, 26 June (BelTA) – The Council of Europe is interested in expanding cooperation and intensifying a constructive dialogue with Belarus, the press service of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus told BelTA commenting on the participation of the Belarusian parliamentary delegation in the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
MPs Dmitry Shevtsov and Elena Anisim took part in the sessions of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy and held a number of bilateral meetings, including a meeting with Head of the Directorate of Political Affairs of the Council of Europe Alexander Hessel. The parties discussed the state and prospects of cooperation between Belarus and the Council of Europe. “They welcomed the considerable progress in bilateral relations achieved in recent years and declared their plans to intensify contacts in order to step up cooperation and deepen a constructive dialogue between Minsk and Strasbourg,” the press service informed.
On the sidelines of the PACE, Belarusian MPs held meetings with members of parliamentary delegations from Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova to discuss inter-parliamentary relations. In addition, the Belarusian delegation exchanged views with candidate for position of Council of Europe Secretary General, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and of Defence of Belgium Didier Reynders, and individual permanent representatives of the Council of Europe's member countries.
