Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 April (BelTA) – The development of interparliamentary cooperation should produce concrete economic projects. The opinion was voiced by Chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vitaly Busko as he commented on the Belarus president’s address to the nation and the parliament, BelTA has learned.

The MP pointed out that international cooperation makes up a considerable part of the president’s address. “First of all, it is one of the most important areas of work for members of the parliament. We have a number of avenues to explore and new regions and countries to take care of. All our meetings and negotiations should result primarily in trade and economic relations, should produce concrete projects. Parliamentarians are supposed to advance various forms of economic integration,” said Vitaly Busko.

The MP mentioned Western Europe countries as one of the concrete avenues for intensifying the relations. “Thanks to our multiple-vector policy Belarus is now accepted as an equal partner. It is useless to talk to us using ultimatums,” noted Vitaly Busko.

In his words, in the near future it is necessary to finish the process of acquiring the observer status in the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. A BSPC delegation visited Belarus in April. “As far as bilateral relations with parliaments of the European Union member states are concerned, one can say we are just starting,” said the MP.

Vitaly Busko said he believes that Belarus has secured considerable accomplishments in the development of interparliamentary ties. Regular mutual visits and meetings testify to that. Delegations from Romania and Bulgaria have visited Belarus lately. Belarusian MPs intend to visit India in May. Apart from that, Belarus has been granted the observer status in the ASEAN Parliamentary Assembly. An agreement on Belarus’ observer status in the Latin America parliament has been signed.