MINSK, 29 December (BelTA) - The first meeting of the Council of Elders set up at the Presidium of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus of the seventh convocation took place on 29 December, BelTA has learned.
“The initiative to set up the Council of Elders at the Presidium of the Council of the Republic did not appear from nowhere. We value the experience of those people, who have gone through the school of parliamentarianism. It is for the first time in the country's history that such a body has been set up, and we are happy that it has been set up this year on the New Year's Eve. Today there is a need to discuss issues with the people who have first-hand knowledge and the understanding of the current situation in the country and the issues related to the social and economic development, the life of our country in general. We need your experience and knowledge and they will certainly be useful,” said Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova.
The speaker emphasized that the meetings of the Council of Elders will be held on a regular basis. “I hope that our interaction will be fruitful,” said Natalya Kochanova.
Member of the Council of Elders Sergei Rakhmanov (Chairman of the Standing Committee on International Affairs and National Security of the Council of the Republic of the sixth convocation) is sure that it is necessary to involve people with experience in the political and economic life, to develop recommendations. “The situation in the world is complicated. It certainly affects Belarus. We have to use all available resources, including the intellectual ones, to solve the emerging problems. Therefore, we need to find solutions within the country, working closely with our colleagues from the Russian Federation and other countries, to find the best way to get through this difficult period. It is not just about the coronavirus, but about he overall economic and even political crisis in the world. Many values are being reconsidered. There are big difficulties with liberalism. Since we are an open country with an open economy, we are directly affected. We need to act so that the resources that we have can be brought to the surface and used for the benefit of the country and our people,” he said.
The member of the Council of Elders added that it is necessary to strengthen analytical work. “It should be done not only for the current moment but also for the future, so that we could see certain strategies for the country in general and for industries, regions, so that we could provide our people with an image of the future. People need to understand what awaits us and what we all have to do to put this image into practice,” Sergei Rakhmanov said.
Boris Batura, who chaired the Council of the Republic of the fourth convocation, has been elected chairman of the Council of Elders.
The participants of the meeting discussed current issues related to the social and economic, social and political and legislative development of the country. The members of the Council of Elders were also shown the museum exposition of the Council of the Republic.
The Council of Elders at the Presidium of the Council of the Republic was set up with a view to use and take into account the practical experience of the members of the Council of the Republic of the previous convocations in legislative support, formation and implementation of the state policy on social and economic development of Belarus, as well as their position with regard to urgent problems of the state and society.
Its main tasks are to take part in the discussion and development of proposals on the most topical issues of the social and economic, social and political and legislative development of the country; to analyze and assess the legislative initiatives, concepts, bills, as well as program documents that are principally new for the legal system of Belarus; to make recommendations and proposals on the improvement of the Council of the Republic and its bodies; to assist the work through advisory services, and others.
The elders will participate in meetings of the Council of Elders and the Presidium of the Council of the Republic, as well as other activities conducted by the Council of the Republic and its bodies. The Council of Elders will be a permanent body whose meetings will be convened as needed. Its personal composition will be determined by the Presidium of the Council of the Republic. The decision to convene a meeting of the Council of Elders will be made by the Presidium of the Council of the Republic at the suggestion of its members or the chairperson of the Council of Elders. The meeting of the Council of Elders will be considered competent if at least half of its members are present at the meeting.
Decisions of the Council of Elders have a recommendatory character. Execution of duties of the elders will be carried out on a pro bono basis.
