|
 |
A delegation of the Council of the Republic participated in the International Parliamentary Conference held in St. PetersburgOn April 15, 2005 a delegation of the Council of the Republic, headed by its Chairman Mr. Gennady Novitsky, participated in the International Parliamentary Conference dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the anti-Hitler coalition victory in the Second World War. The Conference was held in St. Petersburg.
Addressing the audience in plenary, Speaker Gennady Novitsky stressed that Belarus was firmly opposed to the idea of revising the results of the Second World War. He spoke of the decisive contribution that peoples of the USSR had made to achieve victory over fascism. The Speaker recalled that 75 % of all Hitler troops were destroyed at the Eastern front. Fighting the enemy at the front and in the rear were about 1.7 million Belarusians. Every third citizen of the Republic was killed during the war. Partnership and solidarity traditions born during the war years are still greatly valued in Belarus. Even today, those traditions help enhance international security, said Gennady Novitsky.
The leader of the Council of the Republic delegation stated that today parliamentarians should be called upon to better coordinate their efforts in the fight against terrorism. “Just like the Nazi, ideologists of terrorism bring violence and neglect of human life to the world”, stressed Gennady Novitsky.
The St. Petersburg International Parliamentary Conference adopted a declaration, which rejects the use of policy of double standards in international relations. Parliamentarians of more than 40 European countries stressed that this kind of policy has a negative effect on the relations between states, undermines unity of the world community, which faces global threats and challenges, and is fraught with dangerous conflicts between nations.
Participants in the Conference spoke of the need to strengthen the key role of the United Nations Organization in promoting world peace and solving the most important international problems. They also recognized the critical and invaluable contribution that the peoples of the Soviet Union had made to the victory over fascism in the Second World War.
A number of items in the Declaration call on the world parliaments and governments to suppress all attempts at reviving the ideas of fascism, racial intolerance, political and religious extremism. The Declaration condemns the recent spread of Nazi symbols and parties in a number of European countries and calls for action against rehabilitation of fascism on a national level. Moreover, concern is expressed at the growing international terrorism and organized crime, which, in view of parliamentarians, have declared a real war on mankind. The Declaration invites parliamentarians and governments to make use of their historical knowledge of uniting efforts by the countries of anti-Hitler coalition to form effective anti-terrorist alliances.
On April 15, 2005 Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mr. Gennady Novitsky had a bilateral meeting with the President of the PA CE Mr. Rene van der Linden. The meeting took place in St. Petersburg upon the initiative of the President of the PA CE. The parties discussed a wide range of issues involving our country’s relations with international organizations of Europe. Mr. Rene van der Linden stressed that he, as a representative of the Parliamentary Assembly, was in favour of an unprejudiced approach towards Belarus.
During the meeting, which lasted over an hour “ we managed to state the position of the official Minsk on the status of relationship between Belarus and the Council of Europe”, said Mr. Novitsky in a media interview. The Speaker noted with satisfaction that Mr. Rene van der Linden thought that Belarus should engage in the common European processes as soon as possible. He also mentioned that President of the PA CE pledged to take an active stand on the issue.
When in St. Petersburg, Mr. Gennady Novitsky also met with the Speakers of the two Houses of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation — Messrs Sergei Mironov and Boris Gryzlov, as well as with President of the Assembly of the Western European Union Mr. Stephan Goris. |
|
|
| Participation in the work of inter-parliamentary and international organizations, working contacts |
|
| Official visits and working contacts |
|
|
|
