Opinions & Interviews
OSCE PA looks to open dialogue in Minsk
MINSK, 29 April (BelTA) – The OSCE PA countries look forward to an open dialogue at the Minsk platform, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) George Tsereteli told the media after his meeting with Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko on 29 April, BelTA has learned.
Minsk is hosting the 2nd International Parliamentary Conference of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Silk Road Support Group “Belt and Road: strengthening cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity". When asked about the goal of the forum, George Tsereteli stressed: “The OSCE PA is ready to openly discuss threats and challenges, benefits and prospects.” “We would like to take the opportunity and discuss, including at the supreme level, cooperation priorities and Belarus’ role in the OSCE PA,” he added.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, George Tsereteli noted that the forum in Minsk is a great opportunity to MPs to meet and rethink the conditions for closer economic integration on the Eurasian continent.
The OSCE PA president focused on the current problems. In his words, the absence of a friendly business atmosphere complicates the attraction of foreign private investment, which is needed for economic development and political stability in the OSCE region.
George Tsereteli outlined all major tasks for the Parliamentary Assembly. “We need a legal framework to secure efficient public administration, prevent corruption and ensure cross-border cooperation. We also need to provide assistance to trade via appropriate regulatory provisions,” the OSCE PA president said.
He called upon the MPs to promote cooperation in finance, insurance and telecommunications. “We need to share our expertise and experience at the international level to gradually align the national legislative frameworks and infrastructure,” said George Tsereteli.
The agenda of the conference focuses on economic matters. Special attention will also be attached to humanitarian cooperation and tourism.
The events of the conference will be held through 30 April. Its participants will visit the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone to get familiar with its development and meet with its management and representatives of the resident companies.
The first conference of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Silk Road Support Group took place in Azerbaijan in March 2018. The purpose of the Minsk event is to present economic and investment capabilities of Belarus as an important hub of the Silk Road economic belt. The Minsk conference will be attended by MPs and business representatives from Austria, Azerbaijan, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Switzerland.
The OSCE PA Silk Road Support Group was set up at the 26th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk in 2017. The group is designed to expand the areas of cooperation and strengthen political, economic and cultural relations between the participating states. The group plays a role of a platform to promote mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, in particular through promoting connectivity and developing transport corridors, transport and trade facilitation measures, promoting free and secure movement of persons, goods, services and investments.
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