Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) - Belarus is ready for dialogue with the Council of Europe in sensitive areas, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with Andrea Rigoni, Rapporteur on Belarus of the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), BelTA has learned.

“We are open for a dialogue with the Council of Europe in various fields, including sensitive ones. Should you have any questions that need clarifying, I am ready to comment on them,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

The Speaker expressed hope that Andrea Rigoni will present an objective evaluation of Belarus in his report. The draft report will be presented at a meeting of the PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy in April 2017 and approved at the PACE session in June 2017.

One of the areas of the cooperation between the Council of the Republic and the Council of Europe is local government, Mikhail Myasnikovich said. A council for cooperation of local self-government bodies has been set up at the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament. It has the status of invited observer at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. According to the Speaker, preparations are currently underway for joint activities under the auspices of the Congress.

Recently many positive steps have been made in the relations between Belarus and different European institutions, Andrea Rigoni told reporters after the meeting. He said that he expects positive dynamics in the relations with the Council of Europe.