MINSK, 10 April (BelTA) – The final meeting of the 11th session of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus has passed a statement on countering terrorism, BelTA has learned.
The statement reads: “The Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus most resolutely condemns all acts of terrorism regardless of where are committed and what goals they pursue. The murderous terrorist attack that killed over 140 civilians in the Russian Federation on 22 March 2024 was a shock for the entire international community. Once again it reminded all of us of the enduring value of human life. People, who were guilty of nothing, were shot and set on fire by a group of criminals in cold blood. All of it resembled chronicles of the Great Patriotic War when Nazi troops and their accomplices as ruthlessly killed the civilian population without sparing either women or children.”
Nowadays terrorism is still a most serious threat to humanity, the document reads. “Many countries face acts of terrorism and violent extremism as a tool, which is used increasingly often to destabilize the domestic political situation and stir up interethnic and interfaith strife. Criminals pull out all the stops. They resort to new methods, use the Internet and digital technologies to recruit and finance triggermen to commit terrorist attacks and encourage acts of terrorism. We are convinced that stopping acts of international terrorism is one of the most important elements in efforts to maintain international peace and security, ensure sustainable development, preserve sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries,” the statement reads. “Terrorism feeds on energy and sets root where spiritual and moral values, traditions and culture of nations crumble, where history is forgotten. This is why in the context of the fight against terrorism we emphasize the key role played by preventive measures meant to preserve historical memory, form a respectful attitude towards culture and traditions of nations, promote friendly relations between states.”
“We would like to note the key role parliaments play in efforts to prevent terrorism and fight against terrorism, including by means of legislative activities, by means of participation in the development of the corresponding policies and strategies, by advancing international cooperation. We call upon parliaments and parliamentary organizations to consolidate efforts to prevent and fight against terrorism and extremism, including by assisting with realizing the corresponding strategies, including the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the Global Program on Preventing and Countering Terrorism of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),” the statement reads. “We, members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, do state our adherence to stepping up international cooperation in preventing and stopping acts of terrorism. We express readiness for interaction with all the interested parliaments and international organizations with a view to putting up a reliable barrier against terrorism and extremism.”
