Opinions & Interviews

Belarus in favor of CSTO’s full-fledged parliamentary dimension

Sergei Rachkov. An archive photo

MINSK, 16 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian side is in favor of creating a full-fledged parliamentary dimension of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Chairman of the International Affairs and National Security Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Sergei Rachkov made the statement as he took part in a videoconference session of the Political Affairs and International Cooperation Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on 16 October, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Rachkov said: “Belarus is interested in the development of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Recent events in our country, in Nagorno-Karabakh, Kyrgyzstan demonstrate it is important to take targeted steps to enhance the Collective Security Treaty Organization and its bodies. The Belarusian side is in favor of creating a full-fledged parliamentary dimension of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which will use the parliamentary potential to achieve the CSTO’s goals.”

As many as 13 items were discussed during the videoconference session of the Political Affairs and International Cooperation Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The number included a statement by the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in view of the situation that has evolved in Belarus after the presidential election held on 9 August. Members of the commission welcomed the statement, which says that the presidential election in Belarus was held in line with the Constitution and Belarusian laws, the election represents a free manifestation of the Belarusian people’s will that cannot be disregarded. The statement stresses that blatant interference in Belarus’ domestic affairs is in progress contrary to the letter of international law. Participants of the session also discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Sergei Rachkov said: “We didn’t express any opinions. We just received the information and noted it. The Russian Federation shared its findings, in particular, results of a parliamentary investigation into facts of interference in Russia’s domestic affairs by foreign powers. It once again demonstrates how color revolutions are triggered, how mechanisms of interference in domestic affairs of Russia, Belarus, and other CSTO member states work.”

Participants of the session also discussed results of monitoring of the Kyrgyzstan parliamentary elections held on 4 October, progress in ratifying the international agreements signed within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the realization of priorities of the Russian Federation’s presidency in the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The commission approved Belarus-sponsored draft recommendations on coordinating actions of parliamentary delegations of the CSTO member states in international parliamentary organizations. The document meets provisions of the declaration passed by the CSTO Collective Security Council in Astana on 8 November 2018. The declaration identifies the coordination of foreign policy positions of the CSTO member states as one of the main tasks.

“On the whole, rather hot debates about individual matters are in progress because today we see serious turbulence in international relations. An arc of tension is being created around Russia. Unfortunately, Belarus is part of the arc. This is why members of the commission very seriously discussed all the stated matters. I think that we, parliamentarians, will make our own contribution to the resolution of a number of complicated problems,” Sergei Rachkov concluded.

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