MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) – The Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus played host to an online meeting of the heads of parliaments of the member countries of the Group of Friends of Neutrality on 8 October. The meeting highlighted Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue as a Key Tool for Ensuring Peace and Trust at the Global Level, BelTA has learned.
The Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development is an informal association of UN member states established on the initiative of Turkmenistan. It includes 27 countries, including Belarus, Russia, Venezuela, Egypt, Kazakhstan, China, Morocco, Uzbekistan, and others. The Group serves as a platform for developing a multilateral dialogue on the practical application of the principles of neutrality for conflict prevention, the elimination of their causes and consequences, and for solving humanitarian problems.
Participating in the meeting on Belarus’ behalf were Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova, Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs and National Security Sergei Aleinik, Deputy Chairwoman of the Standing Commission on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Natalya Yakubitskaya, and Chairman of the House of Representatives' Standing Commission on Industry, Fuel and Energy Complex, Transport, Communications, and Digital Development Yuri Panfilov.
According to Natalya Kochanova, Belarus is a peace-loving state that pursues a policy of good neighborliness. “This lies at the heart of our parliamentary activities. We cooperate and form unions and strategic partnerships with countries of good will that are aimed at peace and constructive development. Parliamentary diplomacy has colossal potential for strengthening inter-civilizational dialogue, which is especially important during the complex establishment of a multipolar, more just world order. The current situation requires, more than ever, placing the principles of good neighborliness, equal and mutually respectful dialogue at the forefront of interstate relations. This was mentioned by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin. He emphasized that international relations should be based on genuine multilateralism and equal partnership. We, the members of the Group of Friends of Neutrality, must actively promote these key principles on multilateral international parliamentary platforms. The voice of parliamentarians must be heard loudly,” the Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic stressed.
The meeting also discussed that only a multipolar world can ensure equal and indivisible security, respect for international law, and recognition of the diversity of development paths. “Last year, at the opening of the second Minsk Conference on Eurasian Security, our president advocated for the creation of a common space of trust and cooperation, for uniting countries not against anyone, but for a common goal, to avoid a fatal civilizational rift. On 28-29 October, Minsk will host participants of the third international conference on Eurasian security, at which Belarus and Russia will put forward an initiative to adopt a joint statement titled ‘Towards a Eurasian Charter for Multipolarity and Diversity in the 21st Century’. We call on the Group of Friends of Neutrality to join this joint statement,” the speaker said.
The participants of the event agreed that in the context of complex geopolitical transformations it is extremely important to preserve and enhance the enduring values of peace and universal security, to develop friendly relations between nations, and to resolve contradictions through cooperation. “This is only possible through the consolidation of like-minded states that promote a peace-loving agenda and constructive initiatives. Parliamentarians are at the forefront of this important civilizational mission. Our Group of Friends of Neutrality has enormous potential for protecting and affirming multipolarity, forming a just, sustainable, and indivisible security system, and ensuring the inviolability of the norms and principles of international law,” Natalya Kochanova added.
The opening remarks were delivered by Chairwoman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Dunyagozel Gulmanowa. Among the other speakers were Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sholban Kara-ool, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong, Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Andrey Lukin, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, and others.
Follow us on:
