Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 February (BelTA) – Belarus’ National Assembly of the sixth convocation is set to work actively to promote the positive image of the country abroad, Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Boleslav Pirshtuk told reporters, BelTA has learned.

“I believe we need to work together with the EU to bring our positions closer,” the vice speaker said. In general, according to him, the parliament of the sixth convocation will be working to ensure that the country’s voice in the international arena sounds more convincing, and that Belarus has a positive image abroad. Boleslav Pirshtuk believes that this can be achieved through active work of the parliamentary groups, and cooperation in international organizations.

Belarus is interested in good fruitful relations with its neighbors. The country pursues a multi-vector policy, said Valery Voronetsky, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for International Affairs of the House of Representatives. “Of course, we would like to have close good-neighborly constructive relations with the European Union,” he noted.

Valery Voronetsky pointed out that Europe is now facing quite a few pressing issues that are best to be addressed together. He added that Belarus is literally a donor of regional stability. According to the MP, very complex and time-consuming decision-making process creates certain tension in the EU. It is often difficult for the countries to reach common ground on a specific matter. “This is a problem, and you can see some EU countries’ reaction to certain Brussels’ actions. It is not always totally approving,” noted Valery Voronetsky, who previously was Belarusian Ambassador to Austria.

Sergei Rakhmanov, Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Foreign Affairs and National Security of the Council of the Republic, said that recently there has been a positive tendency in the Belarus-EU cooperation, including thanks to the country’s well-balanced policy.