26th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk

MINSK, 6 July (BelTA) – Not a single country participating in the 26^th summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) has made any adjustments to Belarus’ resolution on problems of new psychoactive substances. The statement was made by Chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Valery Voronetsky on 6 July, BelTA has learned.

The MP explained that while working out initiatives for the OSCE PA session Belarus was laboring under the belief that the initiatives should be constructive and uniting. At present problems of new psychoactive substances or spice drugs are very topical for all the OSCE member states, said Valery Voronetsky. Belarus boasts cutting-edge experience of preventing the spread of these drugs. “We share our experience and practices at various platforms, including the parliamentary assembly,” said the MP.

“Judging by the reaction we get the resolution indeed enjoys support during the session. Not a single country has made any adjustments to the document yet,” noted Valery Voronetsky.

The parliamentarian was also asked about the Lithuanian resolution on Belarus, which had been dropped from the OSCE PA agenda the day before. “The draft resolution submitted by Lithuania has been rejected by a majority vote of the Permanent Committee yesterday. The draft resolution mixed up everything: nuclear power plant construction and human rights. We are grateful that the OSCE member states got to the bottom of the situation and decided in favor of supporting Belarus,” stressed Valery Voronetsky.

The OSCE PA summer session is taking place in Minsk on 5-9 July. It is dedicated to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation in the name of peace and prosperity in the region. Belarus suggested for consideration the resolution on developing timely and effective legislative, regulatory, administrative measures to respond to the emergence of new psychoactive substances.