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16 April 2021, 18:09

Belarus' parliamentary delegation attends CIS IPA plenary session

MINSK, 16 April (BelTA) – Belarus' parliamentary delegation headed by Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly Natalya Kochanova took part in the 52nd plenary session of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), BelTA has learned.

One of the main topics of the plenary session is the legislative regulation of migration processes during the pandemic and the role of the parliaments of the CIS member states. The key speakers were the heads of parliaments of the CIS IPA member states, relevant European organizations - representatives of the International Organization for Migration, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the OHCHR Regional Office for Europe and Europe Regional Office of the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies.

In her remarks, Natalya Kochanova highlighted the important events that are run by the CIS IPA's, IPA's activities to develop and strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and to draw up model legislation. “Rapidly changing circumstances pose new big challenges and threats. The coronavirus infection has seriously affected the migration processes and policies,” the speaker said. “In Belarus, the migration policy is based on the universally recognized principles and norms of international law and is open seeking to ensure peace and stability in the country. Our country has developed a national migration legislative framework which includes more than 60 regulations and is aimed at ensuring social integration and adaptation of migrants. Belarus is an active participant in the global economic system and international labor exchange. Migration policy is therefore becoming an important factor in ensuring social and economic development of a country acquiring particular importance in the context of the ongoing pandemic."

According to her, Belarusian MPs together with the government agencies are currently working on improving the legislative regulation of the migration policy amid the effort to deepen integration in the CIS and the EAEU. “We focus on the development of interstate and inter-agency agreements, preparation of documents to improve the legislative norms in terms of rights and freedoms of migrants in Belarus, including amid the pandemic. In this work we actively use model laws of the CIS IPA. Over the years the IPA has adopted about 600 acts on a wide range of topics,” Natalya Kochanova stressed.

“I am sure that we have to continue attaching due attention to current topical issues, take stock of the best practices of the member states, use the innovative and expert experience, and for this purpose actively cooperate with the relevant international organizations,” the chairperson of the Council of the Republic said.

During the session, the Belarusian side spokes about the innovations in Belarusian migration legislation, taking into account the impact of the pandemic, and made specific proposals to promote legal employment of migrant workers and interaction of the Assembly with CIS sectoral bodies.

The MPs adopted the model Migration Code for the CIS member states developed by the IPA. The MPs also considered the model laws “On Ensuring Children's Rights to Healthcare in the CIS Member States”, “On Psychiatric Care and Guarantees of Citizens' Rights in Providing Healthcare”, “On Clinical Recommendations in Providing Healthcare in the CIS Member States”, “On Regional Investment Projects” and the model recommendations “On Access to Information on the Legal Status of Citizens”.

Chairman of the CIS IPA Standing Commission on Studying the Experience of State Construction and Local Self-Government, Chairman of the Standing Committee on State Building, Local Self-Government and Regulations of the House of Representatives Valentin Semenyako spoke about the model law “On regional investment projects”. “The proposed model has common and specific features and is based on the national legislation on investments of the CIS member states. The document is divided into four sections and includes 27 articles. The draft model law will lay the groundwork for specification of the terms and provisions of national legislation, codification and harmonization of legal regulations on investment activities in regions that will be used to define basic standards, principles, and rules for creating the common investment space of the CIS member states,” he explained. “Adopting a single legal regulation will set in motion the process to align legislation on regional investment projects of the CIS member states to improve international legal and national legal mechanisms and to regulate international economic relations in the CIS,” he added.

The plenary session also featured the ceremony to present the CIS IPA Chingiz Aytmatov Award to Merited Cultural Figure of Belarus, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Gnilomedov. “This is a big day for me. The award is a great honor and a source of inspiration. I have been a fan of Chingiz Aytmatov's works for a long time, including ‘Jamila', ‘Farewell, Gulsary!', and others. In his works, Chingiz Aytmatov touches upon key questions of people's existence. His creative thinking had roots in centuries-old folk culture and drew inspiration from inexhaustible sources of folk heritage, which helps you wrap your head around the matters of today. Chingiz Aytmatov's works are one of the pinnacles of the world literature of the late 20th – early 21st centuries. His works bring together and enrich national cultures, facilitate mutual understanding, and strengthen spiritual ties between the CIS member states," Vladimir Gnilomedov said.

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