MINSK, 23 April (BelTA) - The Belarusian parliament will expand the practice of online negotiations with colleagues from foreign countries, Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs of the House of Representatives Andrei Savinykh told the media on 23 April, BelTA has learned.
Today the commission has discussed the introduction of new forms of work to boost international cooperation of the House of Representatives with parliaments of foreign countries and international parliamentary organizations. The pandemic has led to the need of holding consultations, negotiations and meetings online. “This requires the relevant organization, procedures and technology. We need to upgrade the existing communication channels,” said Andrei Savinykh.
“This form has to be used more widely. It should be used more actively in almost all the areas. This is the first time we are talking about the need to apply it in bilateral relations,” he added.
The chairman of the commission is convinced that the number and quality of contacts will increase significantly after the launch of the system.
According to Andrei Savinykh, new forms of work in international parliamentary cooperation are already in use. He said that not long ago he had taken part in a seminar of the OSCE PA to discuss the situation with COVID-19 in the organization's region and possible measures that the parliaments can take to mitigate negative social and economic consequences.