Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is determined to resume close cooperation with the parliament of Belarus, Andrea Rigoni, rapporteur of the PACE’s Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, told BelTA ahead of his meeting with the academic staff and students of the International Relations Department at the Belarusian State University (BSU) on 25 February.

“We have come to Belarus with this goal in mind, i.e. to resume and renew the dialogue. Our cooperation should be continued. We are ready for it and expect return moves from Belarus,” Andrea Rigoni said.

According to the PACE rapporteur, at the meeting with BSU students he will tell the Belarusian youth about the activity of the Parliamentary Assembly. “Such meetings are of great importance for us as we believe that young people are the future of Europe. The youth need to know what to do when they build their future Europe,” he noted.

As was informed, Andrea Rigoni is in Belarus on a visit on 24-27 February. The program of the visit comprises the PACE rapporteur’s meetings with Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina and Justice Minister Oleg Slizhevsky. Andrea Rigoni will also meet with Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei and Information Minister Lilia Ananich.

The foreign guest is also set to hold talks with Speaker of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Piotr Miklashevich and meet with chairpersons of the House of Representatives permanent commissions on human rights, national relations and mass media, state construction, local governance and regulations, national security.

It is expected that the PACE rapporteur will visit the information center of the Council of Europe in Minsk and meet with Commissioner on Religious and Ethnic Affairs Leonid Gulyako.