18.07.2013
Belarus to take closer look at CIS IPA draft model laws
MINSK, 18 July (BelTA) – Belarus will use its experts more actively for developing draft model laws of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The statement was made by Alexander Zozulya, Chairman of the State Construction, Local Self-Government, and Regulations Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, BelTA has learned.
“The Russian Federation is a bit prevalent at the level of experts these days. The bulk of model laws relies on Russian experience,” said the MP. This is why Belarusian parliamentarians intend to more actively involve national experts, including those from the Belarusian State University and the Academy of Public Administration under the Belarus President. “At present there are 11 CIS member states. Each has its own approaches to law making and law enforcement. Certainly, seeing positive dynamics of the Union State and the Customs Union, we should bring our approaches closer via legal acts while taking into account different postures of the member states,” he added.
In particular, Alexander Zozulya drew attention to the draft model laws on organizing local self-government, the state of an elected self-government member and so on. These documents use the term “municipal”, which is usual for Russia, but not the entire CIS. It would be logical to replace it with “local”. In the end the recommendation was approved by the 18 July session of the State Construction, Local Self-Government, and Regulations Commission. The Commission decided to submit other remarks to the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, too. For instance, the Belarusian side believes that the recruitment of a person for active military service or for alternative military service cannot be used as grounds for pre-term termination of the authority of the elected person.
As the draft model laws were discussed, parliamentarian Alexander Popkov remarked that the mechanism used to form local budgets is very important in matters of local self-government. Speaking about model laws, the MP said it will be wise to remember that conditions in CIS countries like Tajikistan and Belarus are totally different.
“Belarus is now a sovereign nation and we can use the traditions that have evolved to advance local self-government,” believes Alexander Popkov. In his opinion, it is necessary to distinguish between the authorities and local self-government. The MP also reminded about the institution of elders that was introduced in Belarus earlier. He added that it is the local self-government that could deal with minor problems instead of the authorities.
“The Russian Federation is a bit prevalent at the level of experts these days. The bulk of model laws relies on Russian experience,” said the MP. This is why Belarusian parliamentarians intend to more actively involve national experts, including those from the Belarusian State University and the Academy of Public Administration under the Belarus President. “At present there are 11 CIS member states. Each has its own approaches to law making and law enforcement. Certainly, seeing positive dynamics of the Union State and the Customs Union, we should bring our approaches closer via legal acts while taking into account different postures of the member states,” he added.
In particular, Alexander Zozulya drew attention to the draft model laws on organizing local self-government, the state of an elected self-government member and so on. These documents use the term “municipal”, which is usual for Russia, but not the entire CIS. It would be logical to replace it with “local”. In the end the recommendation was approved by the 18 July session of the State Construction, Local Self-Government, and Regulations Commission. The Commission decided to submit other remarks to the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, too. For instance, the Belarusian side believes that the recruitment of a person for active military service or for alternative military service cannot be used as grounds for pre-term termination of the authority of the elected person.
As the draft model laws were discussed, parliamentarian Alexander Popkov remarked that the mechanism used to form local budgets is very important in matters of local self-government. Speaking about model laws, the MP said it will be wise to remember that conditions in CIS countries like Tajikistan and Belarus are totally different.
“Belarus is now a sovereign nation and we can use the traditions that have evolved to advance local self-government,” believes Alexander Popkov. In his opinion, it is necessary to distinguish between the authorities and local self-government. The MP also reminded about the institution of elders that was introduced in Belarus earlier. He added that it is the local self-government that could deal with minor problems instead of the authorities.