Viktor Guminsky
MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should make its contribution to the implementation of the decisions regarding the conflicts in the region, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus' National Assembly Viktor Guminsky said as he took part in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Winter Meeting in Vienna, Austria, BelTA has learned.
“We have finally realized how fragile the modern world is. We have come to a line that we cannot cross if we do not want the worst to happen. Decisions have been made on almost all the conflicts (in the region – BelTA's note), and they should be implemented. The Organization should make its contribution to this process,” Viktor Guminsky stressed.
He believes that the OSCE should make more efforts to find any opportunities for dialogue and constructive development of relations. This can help restore the lost balance and prevent irreparable damage, Viktor Guminsky said.
During the visit to Vienna, the Belarusian parliamentary delegation headed by Viktor Guminsky took part in a number of meetings of the Standing Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, and the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment. The delegation also attended a joint meeting of the three OSCE General Committees. At the meeting of the OSCE Standing Committee, Viktor Guminsky commented on the report by President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva on the security situation in the OSCE area and neighboring regions, and also on the report by Kent Harstedt, the special coordinator of the OSCE mission that monitored the 2015 Belarus president election.
Viktor Guminsky also spoke about the measures that were taken after the report of the mission was published. He said that an interagency expert group was set up in February 2016 to study the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. The work of the group is aimed at improving the electoral process in Belarus. They will analyze the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations contained in the OSCE/ODIHR final report on the 2015 Belarus presidential election. After that, they will prepare recommendations on how to enhance the electoral process that will be submitted for consideration to the Central Election Commission and the head of state.
Viktor Guminsky stressed that possible decisions would be made ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. However, there will not be enough time to implement them all. “We are ready to continue our cooperation,” he stressed.
The head of the delegation also met with his counterparts from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Sweden to discuss interparliamentary cooperation.
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