Mogilev Oblast to host Belarus-Russia first regional forum in 2013

MINSK, 15 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian-Russian first regional forum will take place in Mogilev Oblast in October 2013, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Anatoly Rubinov said as he met with First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Alexander Torshin on 15 February.

Mogilev Oblast has been suggested as the region that boasts extensive cooperation, including cross-border ties, with Russian regions, Anatoly Rubinov said.

According to the Chairman of the Council of the Republic, the year 2012 was very productive in what regards the Union State integration. A number of important visits took place last year. During the visit of Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko to Belarus an agreement was signed between the Council of the Republic and the Federation Council which will surely open a new page in the inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, the Speaker of the upper house of the Belarusian parliament stressed.

Anatoly Rubinov expressed confidence that the inter-parliamentary commission for interregional cooperation of the upper houses of the Belarusian and Russian parliaments would also give a new impetus to the development of cooperation between the constituents of the Russian Federation and the administrative-territorial units of Belarus.

“Our President supports development of regional ties between Belarus and Russia. This is the way which is meant to foster further cooperation and help find productive contacts between market participants,” Chairman of the Council of the Republic noted.

First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Alexander Torshin supported the proposal to hold the first regional forum in Mogilev Oblast. He noted that among the regions of the Russian Federation there is a kind of competition for the right to host the Belarusian delegation during this forum. Alexander Torshin also said that Russia is interested in the Belarusian experience in agriculture and in other areas.

The meeting between Anatoly Rubinov and Alexander Torshin will be followed by a session of the inter-parliamentary commission on interregional cooperation. The MPs are set to discuss the state and prospects for trade and economic cooperation between the administrative-territorial units of Belarus and Russia. The draft agenda includes the joint action of the Council of the Republic and the Federation Council to improve Belarusian-Russian cooperation and to hold the Belarus-Russia regional forum.

The MPs will also consider the ways to improve the mechanism of cooperation between Russia and Belarus in implementation of projects and programs of the Union State and other issues.

The Russian parliamentary delegation headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Alexander Torshin is in Belarus until 16 February. The Russian guests are scheduled to visit the state scientific-production precision engineering corporation Planar, and the mutli-functional entertainment and sports facility Minsk Arena.