Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 2 October (BelTA) – While working on new bills, MPs and experts must pay particular attention to the innovation and financial security of the country, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he addressed the first meeting of the parliament's autumn session, BelTA has learned.

The speaker believes that the import, especially under tied loans, should be monitored for compliance of the procured technologies with the international standards and for the availability of the intellectual property rights to the objects contained in them.

“In this regard, we should increase the role of scientific expertise of bills and the treaties and agreements we ratify, including those on loans. Scientific, innovation, trade, financial and other risks need to be seriously calculated. So should the availability of adequate personnel for new manufactures,” Mikhail Myasnikovich emphasized. As an example he cited the United States, its insistence against the countries that borrowed American technology. It is largely this reason that gave rise to trade wars, he said.

Speaking about legislative tasks, the speaker noted that the country is to draft a number of laws in the electric-power industry, trade and corporate relations. “The Council of the Republic needs to focus on legislative empowering of efficient investment activities. Our goal is to create a comfortable legal environment to attract more investment into the country’s economy. We need to strengthen domestic and foreign investor's confidence,” the chairman of the Council of the Republic said.

The agenda of the autumn session is packed. Senators are set to consider over 30 draft laws, including the new wording of the Tax Code.

Mikhail Myasnikovich called the draft law on Amendments and Additions to Some Belarus’ Laws on Portable Water Supplies the most important document which is to be adopted at the ongoing session. The speaker said that people complain about the quality of water in a number of population centers. “The matter should be solved. We need a step-by-step approach here,” the speaker said.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, the Presidium of the Council of the Republic approved a plan of action in late August 2018 to implement the head of state’s instructions given in 2018. “This plan of action must become a roadmap for every senator,” the chairman of the Council of the Republic said.