Opinions & Interviews

Sergeyenko: Belarus is going to Africa as a true friend, partner

MINSK, 4 November (BelTA) - Belarus is going to Africa as a true friend and partner, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko said at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa on 4 November, BelTA has learned.

“Against the background of large-scale geopolitical events taking place in the world, the African continent is attracting more and more attention as a new center of power,” Igor Sergeyenko said. “We know well that the strength of nations, as the Belarusian head of state emphasizes, is not in capitals, military might, ambitions, but in true values, in the pursuit of justice and faith in themselves. Belarusians, as well as Africans, know what attempts to impose alien culture, traditions and ideologies lead to, the speaker said. “They treat the historical memory and heritage of their ancestors with the same care, because they realize that the lessons of the past help build a better future. The peoples who have passed a difficult historical path, will always speak the same language - the language of friendship, trust and support.”

“Today we are set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Pan-African Parliament, and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus will get the status of an observer at this authoritative international association. Time has chosen us to conduct an equal dialogue and develop mutually beneficial cooperation. I would like to emphasize that Belarus is going to Africa as a true friend and partner. Belarusians, the same as Africans, are devoted to their native land,” the speaker added.

As BelTA reported earlier, a delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is on a visit to Midrand, South Africa on 4-5 November at the invitation of Chairman of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Fortune Charumbira to take part in the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament. For the first time in history, the Belarusian parliament will be given the opportunity to speak at the official opening ceremony of the PAP session. The National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the PAP are expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation, according to which the Belarusian parliament will be granted the status of an observer to this organization. Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is set to meet with the leadership of the PAP, the National Assembly of South Africa, and heads of parliamentary delegations of African countries.

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