The resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) are detrimental to the development of a dialogue between Belarus and the Council of Europe. This statement was made by Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ permanent commission for international affairs and relations with the CIS Igor Karpenko at a meeting with a delegation of the French canton of La Fere on 13 May.
The French delegation is led by member of the Senate of the Republic of France Jean-Claude Frecon. Therefore, the highlight of the meeting was the relations between Belarus and PACE. Top on the agenda was also the cooperation between the Belarusian town of Glubokoye and its twin town of La Fere. PACE pledged to lift the suspension of the Belarusian Parliament’s special guest status in PACE provided that a moratorium is decreed on enforcement of the death penalty. Igor Karpenko informed the French senator that a task group was set up in the Belarusian parliament to study a possibility to introduce a moratorium on the capital punishment. The MP assured that the issue will be considered regardless of PACE resolutions, taking into consideration the national and state interests of Belarus, like any sovereign and independent state will do. He also believes that PACE should adopt a more constructive stance on a dialogue with Belarus and stop using resolutions as an instrument to exert pressure on Belarus. “Figuratively speaking, I am not a schoolboy at whom PACE can wag a finger. We have parliamentary, civil, national dignity which does not let us tolerate admonition from outside,” Igor Karpenko said.
In his opinion, a dialogue between countries and parliaments should be based on mutual respect and equality, “without conditions or dictate”. He regretted that the European Parliament does not adhere to these principles yet. At the same time, Belarus successfully develops bilateral relations with parliamentarians from several European countries. The Belarusian MP emphasized that the National Assembly is ready for cooperation and work both within PACE structures and Eastern Partnership project, but only on the conditions of equality and mutual respect.
Jean-Claude Frecon agreed with the Belarusian parliamentarian that Belarus should join European parliamentary structures and actively participate in their work. At the same time, he underlined that several conditions should be met, like the respect for human rights which implies the right to life for each person. This is why the French senator is convinced that Belarus is likely to receive a special guest status in PACE provided it opts for the abolition of the death penalty.
The sides also discussed the development of Belarus-France inter-parliamentary and inter-regional cooperation. The parties pointed out that the cooperation has been gaining momentum in the recent times. Another visit of La Fere delegation to Belarus is a testimony to that. The visit is held on 12-18 May. During the visit, the sides will discuss a possibility of the on-the-job training for the heads of the agricultural companies and combine operators of the Glubokoye Region and the farms of the canton of La Fere. Apart from that, Glubokoye State Vocational Lyceum might send its students for training to the agricultural college of La Fere. The twin towns also plan to organize the days of the towns, exhibitions, concerts and work out programs for youth exchanges.
