Kochanova: Belarus, Cuba are example of determined defence of their national interests
The Chairperson of the Council of the Republic, Natalya Kochanova, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Vladimir Andreichenko, negotiated with the President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of the Republic of Cuba, Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez, in a video conference format
As Ms. Kochanova noted in her opening speech, the meeting was conditioned by a significant event in the history of Belarusian-Cuban inter-parliamentary relations: the signing of an agreement on co-operation between the parliaments of the two countries. “Since our last meeting in December 2022, important domestic political events have taken place in your country: parliamentary and presidential elections. On behalf of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, we would like to once again congratulate all Cubans on the successful conduct of these campaigns and on the election of you, dear Mr. Lazo, to the high post of President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of the Republic of Cuba. I sincerely congratulate you,” she said.
“Belarus and Cuba are old and loyal friends. Our countries maintain an active political dialogue at the highest level, and this is due to the good, friendly relations between the leaders of our states. We have completely identical views on most issues on the international agenda, including the need to build a new world order: a just, multipolar one. We support each other on international platforms and in international organisations. Belarus and Cuba are an example of the determined defence of their national interests and the counteraction to external interference in internal affairs. Our states are pressurised by the West, including through large-scale illegal sanctions, for their independent policy,” Ms. Kochanova added.
According to the politician, the countries are determined to face the challenges of modern times together. “It is in the interests of our states to intensify and strengthen co-operation between the parliaments of Belarus and Cuba. The signing of a co-operation agreement, an important element of which is the provision on the establishment of an interparliamentary commission, will serve this purpose. Our vision of the role of this commission is to monitor and support the activities of government agencies to implement the agreements reached. The interparliamentary commission does not replace the work of friendship groups established in the parliaments of Belarus and Cuba. We propose to consider the groups as subsidiary working bodies of the commission, designed to implement its decisions. We propose to promptly form the personal composition of the commission and determine the dates of its first meeting, as well as the range of issues for consideration,” she added.
Ms. Kochanova believes Belarus and Cuba have the potential to expand co-operation in international parliamentary structures, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement. “The main areas of co-operation in the above-mentioned structures are countering politicised initiatives of Western countries; development and promotion of joint initiatives on topics of mutual interest: countering illegal sanctions policy, politicisation of human rights issues and its use for interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, making discriminatory decisions in the field of sports, culture, education; preparation of thematic statements on behalf of Belarus and Cuba and like-minded states. We propose to hold a meeting between the parliamentary delegations of Belarus and Cuba on the side-lines of the 147th IPU Assembly in Angola, which will take place in just a few days,” she noted.
