Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 4 July (BelTA) – Belarus acts as a bridge between the East and the West, BelTA learned from President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) Christine Muttonen, who arrived in Minsk on 4 July in order to take part in the 26^th summer session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Christine Muttonen remarked that a long time ago Minsk became a venue where important forums are convened and world-building matters are discussed. “We already see Belarus not only as a bridge between the East and the West but a bridge between different countries. In other words, Belarus is already an important international platform,” she said.

The OSCE PA summer session is scheduled to take place in Minsk on 5-9 July and will be dedicated to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation in the name of peace and prosperity in the region. The agenda of the session comprises reports of three general committees: on political affairs and security; on economic affairs, science, technology, and environment; on democracy, human rights, and humanitarian affairs. Resolutions to be adopted as a result of the discussion will become the foundation of the Minsk declaration, which will formulate recommendations for national governments, parliaments, and the international community on responding to pressing challenges and threats.

The declaration will also include several additional resolutions, which are initiated by individual parliamentarians. The resolutions target quite a large number of matters, including counterterrorism, migration challenges, prevention of interfaith enmity, stronger energy security and many other things.

Earlier BelTA quoted Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, as saying that Belarus had prepared a resolution for consideration during the session. The resolution focuses on developing timely and effective legislative, regulatory, and administrative measures to respond to the emergence of new psychoactive substances. Belarus has also co-authored several resolutions prepared by foreign colleagues. Those are, for instance, resolutions on fighting terrorism (Russia), problems of intolerance and discrimination on religious grounds (Russia), prevention of sexual exploitation of children online (USA), democratic development of multiculturalism values (Azerbaijan).

Up to 700 people are expected to visit Minsk in order to take part in the OSCE PA events.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was established in Madrid, Spain in April 1991. As many as 323 MPs representing 57 nations take part in the OSCE PA’s work. The OSCE PA is focused on providing assistance with interparliamentary dialogue, support for democratic institutions in the OSCE member states, enhancement of cooperation and security in the region. The annual summer session is the key event in the OSCE PA’s work. During such sessions top OSCE PA officials are elected and declarations and resolutions are passed.