The Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Standing Committee of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus for Foreign Affairs and National Security held a joint meeting.
The event was co-chaired by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin and Chair of the Standing Committee of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus for Foreign Affairs and National Security Sergei Aleinik. It was held during the visit of the members of the Standing Committee to the Russian Federation and attended by members of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security and the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, as well as by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
The agenda included important issues of Russian-Belarusian cooperation, in particular, the coordination of efforts against interference in the internal affairs of Russia and Belarus, cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, improvements to the legal framework of scientific and technological cooperation, and the development of international youth cooperation.
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin said in his remarks that Russian-Belarusian interparliamentary relations were noted for a high level of trust and mutual understanding. The Senator expressed confidence that the rich dialogue between the two parliaments would continue to grow stronger for the benefit of interstate cooperation.
“We are working together to strengthen the sovereignty of the Union State and confront external threats and challenges, while developing cooperation at the interparliamentary, interregional, cultural, humanitarian and many other levels,” Grigory Karasin pointed out.
He noted that members of the Russian and Belarusian parliaments usually stand together on many international issues. “We are also consolidating our approaches at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and within BRICS, including when developing the BRICS+ geopolitical group,” Grigory Karasin said.
The Senator believes that it is important to continue to stand together against the West’s politically-biased allegations and attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia and Belarus with the aim of destabilising the situation and inciting nationalist sentiments.
Russia and Belarus are working to create a Eurasian security architecture based on the principle of indivisibility, he said. He recalled that the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, which was held on 28 October, highlighted the consolidating role of the Belarusian initiative on drafting a Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century.
“We believe that we should advance towards the practical implementation of the principles shared by many countries. The CIS and other friendly countries share the joint vision of the charter centred around the idea of Eurasia as the territory of cooperation and peace,” Grigory Karasin stated.
Chair of the Standing Committee of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus for Foreign Affairs and National Security Sergei Aleinik noted that bilateral cooperation was developing dynamically in the economy, politics and security. He also spoke about the importance of educational youth initiatives, such as the Train of Memory cultural and educational project initiated by the speakers of the upper houses of the Russian and Belarusian parliaments.
“The Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions has a special role to play. This year, it was held in Nizhny Novgorod and focused on youth policy and future generations, which should ensure continuity in the development of integration between our countries. The economic effect of the forum is also substantial, considering the signing of about 200 documents that will strengthen interregional ties between our countries,” Sergei Aleinik said.
He also reported on the start of preparations for the 8th Forum of Russian and Belarusian Regions, which will be held in the Minsk Region next year and will be devoted to expanding economic cooperation within the Union State.