Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) - Belarus is a consistent supporter of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Boleslav Pirshtuk said at a special discussion of the OSCE PA General Committee Political Affairs and Security, BelTA learned from the press service of the House of Representatives.

The discussion highlighted the issues related to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation in the OSCE area. “The vice speaker noted that Belarus is a consistent supporter and participant in the processes of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and recalled that in February 2018 Belarus marked 25 years since it adopted the historic decision to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” the press service said. Boleslav Pirshtuk expressed regret that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has not yet entered into force, which is detrimental to the global non-proliferation regime.

The Belarusian delegation took part in the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which also featured a discussion about arms control. The MPs took part in the key events of the session, including the meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly General Committee on Political Affairs and Security. In his speech, Boleslav Pirshtuk emphasized the need for a coordinated approach and joint action by all OSCE countries and partners in counteracting transnational challenges and threats to security. “He called on the members of the assembly to effectively implement the existing confidence-building measures, to act in line with OSCE commitments to complement the efforts of the UN in this direction,” the press service said.

The vice speaker expressed the hope that the resolutions adopted at the 26^th annual session in Minsk on such topical issues as the response to the emergence of new psychotropic substances, the prevention of sexual exploitation of children on the Internet and others will serve as a further stimulus for expanding cooperation between OSCE states in the field of information and communication technologies.