Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 5 July (BelTA) – Belarus seeks to contribute to the effort to tackle global threats and challenges, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Austria, Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alena Kupchyna said in an interview with the SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper, BelTA has learned.

“Our MPs have prepared the resolution on the topical subject of combating new psychotropic substances for the 26th OSCE PA session. We hope it will be supported by legislators from other countries. We plan to hold two panel discussions on the sidelines of the annual session: on countering trafficking in new psychotropic substances and combating trafficking in persons. The events are organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliament together with the International Organization for Migration. They are in sync with Belarus’ initiative put forward by our president at the UN in 2005. Thus Belarus seeks to contribute to counteracting global threats and challenges and is working towards the unifying agenda,” Ambassador Alena Kupchyna said.

As for the president’s initiative to forge a new large-scale dialogue between East and West similar to the Helsinki Process, the diplomat emphasized that its relevance is obvious. Alena Kupchyna said that interparliamentary ties can provide a fertile ground for developing solutions to overcome disagreements and controversies. “The legislative branch is more flexible in decision-making and is not constrained by any framework like the executive branch. MPs can also encourage the executive branch to speed up the adoption of the decisions regarding the urgent issues related to the strengthening of the European security and stability. In any case, Belarus will continue, both at this session and in the future, to work towards promoting dialogue, building bridges and mutual trust throughout the OSCE region,” Ambassador Alena Kupchyna noted.