NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
GRODNO, 21 April (BelTA) – It is important to promote cooperation between regions of Russia and Belarus Valentin Semenyako, Chairman of the Standing Commission on State Construction, Local Self-Government and Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, said ahead of the workshop meeting on the 2nd Congress of Small Towns of Grodno Oblast of Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Region of Russia in the town of Zelva, BelTA has learned.
"Today, we will discuss the format of the congress. The model we used last year proved efficient. We had several tracks built on interests. There was a parliamentary track where we exchanged approaches to the formation of the legislative framework at various levels.
“The Russians were very interested in our approaches to the improvement of rural communities, including the experience of Zelva District in creating a rural community museum. The agrarian track focused on advanced, best practices and ways of promoting cooperation. There were also economic and social tracks. We will try to preserve these tracks this year as well. It is very important that we will discuss youth affairs, interaction at the between youth parliaments this year," Valentin Semenyako said.
He added: "It is the mutual penetration of cultures, economies, legislative approaches that can ensure success in the interaction of the two states. The regions must feel that they benefit from the Union State, benefit from mutual projects. The head of state calls on us to do this, and we consider this to be our main task."
"The initiative aims to promote regional products (environmental, agricultural, educational) and promote ties with the regions of other countries. Since today we are dealing with the sanctions pressure, the priority for us is, of course, Russia. For two years we have been cooperating with Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. The main task is to establish economic relations, inter-parliamentary relations, to exchange best practices, including legislative ones," Valentin Semenyako said.
The workshop meeting brought together districts of Zelva, Volkovysk, Slonim, Shchuchin, Mosty and Svisloch and a delegation from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (representatives of the State Duma from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, the Legislative Assembly, the regional administration). The dialogue in such a broad format is expected to help prepare for the 2nd Congress of Small Towns, which will be held in Zelva.
