CE delegation studies local self-government in Belarus

MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) – A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is studying the development of local self-government in Belarus. On 25 September members of the delegation have visited the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, where they have met with Svetlana Gerasimovich, Chairperson of the Commission for Regional Policy and Local Self-Government, BelTA learnt.

Before the meeting Svetlana Gerasimovich told journalists that the visit of the delegation is organized on the initiative of the European side. The senator expressed hope that the visit will promote cooperation of the Congress with the council on the interaction between local government institutions, where Svetlana Gerasimovich is Deputy Chairperson.

“During this visit the representatives of the Congress will see with their own eyes the functioning of the Belarusian local government, the development of the local government in the country in general, the implementation of European experience,” Svetlana Gerasimovich said.

The council on the interaction between local government institutions of the Council of the Republic has the observer status at the Congress. The senator underlined that Belarus hopes to become a permanent member of the Council on equal terms, “so that there are no students and teachers”.

President of the Chamber of Local Authorities Jean-Claude Frecon, in turn, noted, that the purpose of the visit to Belarus is to exchange opinions on the development of local self-government and to discuss the organization of a seminar concerning the same issues with the participation of the CE and Belarusian experts.

The delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the CE will visit the Minsk City Council and the Molodechno District Executive Committee. The guests will also visit a number of rural councils in Nesvizh District of Minsk Oblast and hold a meeting at the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.