Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova addressed the 60th plenary session of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, BelTA has learned.
Respect and equal rights
“Our organization has, without exaggeration, become the most authoritative international parliamentary forum in the CIS. Here, around the round table, on the principles of mutual respect, consideration of national interests, and equality, we develop coordinated approaches to harmonizing legislation and also joint initiatives in economy, social policy, security, and humanitarian development,” Natalya Kochanova noted.
According to the Speaker, the IPA is the venues where the very model framework is created, which underlies many national laws and advanced solutions. Today, when attempts at external interference in internal affairs do not cease, the IPA remains a reliable pillar in defending the state sovereignty of each CIS country.
“International partners show interest and seek cooperation with the CIS IPA. The circle of observers is expanding year by year. These are our joint achievements. However, they would not have been possible without the caring attentive attitude, innate leadership qualities and highest professionalism of Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council Valentina Matviyenko,” Natalya Kochanova said.
Reasons for pride
Natalya Kochanova noted that 2026 has been declared the Year of Health Protection in the Commonwealth of Independent States. According to her, this decision is timely. The health of a nation is the foundation of demographic security, economic stability, and sustainable development of any state.
“The Republic of Belarus has been consistently building a high-tech, people-oriented healthcare system. As our President Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized, there are reasons for pride in Belarusian medicine. We have preserved all the best things we inherited from the Soviet medicine and have built upon previous achievements. This strategic course is yielding real, tangible results today,” the Speaker said.
Natalya Kochanova noted that thanks to the established multi-tier system of early intervention and high-tech care, Belarus holds top international positions when it comes to low infant mortality and the conditions supporting childbirth. Behind these achievements are saved lives, the health of the nation, and the enormous efforts of Belarusian doctors.
According to her, a particular source of pride is scientific and practical centers. Belarusian surgeons perform high-tech operations in cardiology, neurosurgery, traumatology, and transplantology.
The Program for Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2026-2030 defines strengthening the health of the nation as one of the key priorities of national demographic security, she noted. “We are setting specific, measurable goals for ourselves: increasing the life expectancy, reducing the overall mortality rate, and the development of preventive medicine,” the Speaker said.
Model law on radiation safety in medicine
Natalya Kochanova noted that this year marks a sorrowful anniversary - 40 years since the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. “For many countries, especially for Belarus, it was a serious ordeal. Our country gained enormous experience in eliminating the consequences of the accident, including in radiation medicine, long-term health monitoring and social protection. Part of this experience has been incorporated into the IPA model legislation. The time has come to update it. And the plans to develop a model law on radiation safety in medicine are very timely,” she added.
A healthy and happy family
The chairperson of the Council of the Republic believes it is symbolic that the 60th plenary session of the IPA is taking place just one week after the International Day of Families, which is marked on 15 May. According to her, the protection of traditional values, family values, strengthening the institution of the family, and demographic security are among the priority tasks for all CIS countries. “It is the family that lays the foundation of the physical and moral health of future generations. A healthy family means a healthy nation, and a happy family means a strong state,” she said confidently.
Given the importance of this topic, the Speaker of the Council of the Republic proposed considering a possibility of holding an event on the theme of traditional family values at the IPA. This would elevate the dialogue on family to an interparliamentary level and allow for the exchange of best practices, Natalya Kochanova emphasized.
“The joint work within the IPA, the experience we have gained and, above all, our commitment to defending the sovereign interests of our states enable us to move forward with confidence,” Natalya Kochanova added.
