Updated at 13:52,22-04-2024

Legislature Begins Spring Session

BelaPAN

The House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic on Friday began their spring sessions after a more than three-month winter recess.

On April 2, the lower parliamentary chamber was to approve the spring session's agenda, which consists of 16 draft laws and 12 ratification bills for international agreements.

The agenda includes, among other items, the ratification bill for a state border agreement with Ukraine and a blood donation bill.

More bills are expected to be added to the agenda in the course of the spring session.

On the opening day of the session, the Council of the Republic planned to consider Uladzimir Sawchanka's request for relieving him of his duties as a member of the upper chamber, as well as hold a conference on the development of science in Belarus.

It is not yet clear whether the National Assembly will consider recognizing Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states at the spring session.

Speaking to reporters in February, Vital Busko, a member of the House of Representatives’ Committee on International Affairs and Relations within the CIS, said that a decision on the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be made "when everyone is ready for it."
The issue is currently at the stage of consideration, Mr. Busko noted.

A delegation of Belarusian lawmakers visited Georgia and both breakaway regions last November to study the situation there. The delegation's findings were not made public.

The House of Representatives received a recognition appeal from the parliament of South Ossetia on December 1, 2008 and a similar appeal from the legislature of Abkhazia a little earlier.