SCO Observer Mission in Belarus

On 24 February, the Mission members continued their work monitoring the early elections in the capital and Minsk Region.

The Head of the Mission met with Anatoly Markevich, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus. During the conversation, they discussed cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO. The minister stressed the high level of cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Organisation's member states. The Belarusian side gave special attention to the proposal to hold the SCO Days of National Cultures in the summer of 2024 as part of the traditional Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk.

Nurlan Yermekbayev, in turn, informed the minister about the SCO activities on the cultural and humanitarian track and assured him that the Secretariat would carefully consider the Belarusian initiatives and proposals.

On the same day, the SCO Deputy Secretary General met with CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev. The parties discussed issues on the common agenda, including the development of interaction between the two organisations, as well as with the CSTO. They shared views on a wide range of issues and exchanged experience in organising and conducting election observation. The officials agreed to continue their contacts.

The leadership and members of the SCO Observer Mission also took part in a joint news conference held by the Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Information. The news conference covered preparations for the elections, innovations in the current election campaign and the progress of early voting.