Belarus invites Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference to step up cooperation

MINSK (BelTA) – Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Viktor Guminsky invited the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) to leave the past behind and develop cooperation as he met with a BSPC delegation on 13 April, BelTA has learned.

“It is difficult to definitively assess the relations between the Belarusian parliament and BSPC to date, whether they are positive or negative. Probably there was a misunderstanding from one of the parties. I would like us to bear no resentment at the lack of close contacts. I believe that your visit will lay the foundation for a better understanding between us,” Viktor Guminsky said.

He recalled that Belarus placed a bid for observer status in the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference back in 2010. In 2015, the country twice confirmed its eagerness to cooperate in different fields, and that the bid was still in force. “The desire to get observer status is not an end in itself. However, keeping in mind that our parliament cooperates with many regional organizations as an observer or even as an active member, we would also like to cooperate with such an authoritative organization as the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. Honestly, it will be no tragedy if we do not get the status. We will continue strengthening bilateral cooperation, in the same way as we do today,” Viktor Guminsky noted.

He expressed confidence that the visit of the BSPC delegation will be an important step towards closer cooperation between the Belarusian parliament and BSPC for the good of the peoples.