Minsk expects Latvia to stay constructive about Belarus-Europe relations

MINSK, 10 September (BelTA) – Minsk expects Latvia to preserve its constructive stance with regard to Belarus’ interaction with Europe. The statement was made by Svetlana Gerasimovich, Chairwoman of the Regional Policy and Local Self-Government Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly, as she met with Latvian MPs on 10 September, BelTA has learned.

“We are pleased with Latvia’s constructive attitude to several avenues of Belarus’ cooperation with Europe, which are important for us,” said Svetlana Gerasimovich. She said she was confident that the state of affairs would continue. The senator underlined that Belarus considers Latvia an important and serious partner and is interested in advancing cooperation in a large number of areas.

Svetlana Gerasimovich noted that cooperation at the level of parliaments of the two countries will make its own contribution to stronger Belarus-Latvia relations.

The parliaments of Belarus and Latvia have created working groups on cooperation. Representatives of the groups met in the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly on 10 September. The sides discussed the expansion of Belarusian-Latvian parliamentary interaction, the development of the legal base for the bilateral relations, trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation.

According to chairman of the Latvian parliament’s group on cooperation with the Belarusian parliament Artur Rubiks, sharing experience at this level was very positive. “It is a very good positive sign for Europe. We indicate that we cooperate and there is an interest on both sides,” said the Latvian MP.

At present Belarus-Latvia relations rely on 30 interstate and intergovernmental agreements and 19 interagency ones.