Kochanova visits Polotsk to discuss preparations for Belarus-Russia Forum of Regions

The organizers of the large-scale event, the Council of the Republic and the Federation Council, aim not only to strengthen inter-regional ties between the two countries but also to promote the cities of Vitebsk Oblast, its sights and rich history. The forum will be held in Vitebsk, Polotsk and Novopolotsk at the end of June. The preparations are entering the home stretch, Natalya Kochanova noted.

Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee Igor Markovich briefed the speaker that with the onset of warmth, the city will start working on road maintenance and the facades of more than 70 buildings. The monument to Francysk Skaryna also needs a facelift.

Employees of the Secretariat of the Council of the Republic, who participated in the visiting session and who will be put in charge of certain panel discussions, noted that 50 to 70 people will participate in each of the panel discussions. 

Polotsk is expected to host five panel discussions, and the neighboring Novopolotsk - two and a youth forum. Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Council of Deputies Dmitry Demidov, who previously headed the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee, said that children from eight Russian twin cities of Novopolotsk will be invited to the youth forum. Natalya Kochanova proposed to expand the geography and send invitations to young people from other sister cities of Vitebsk Oblast. 

Natalya Kochanova recalled that the urban environment should be aesthetic and modern, at the same time respectful of history and urged the local authorities and the secretariat to pay attention to landscaping. It is also important to think about souvenirs that guests of the event will be able to take home.

"A large delegation of the Secretariat of the Council of the Republic arrived on site to meet the people on the ground and discuss the nuances of the forum's work. The facilities that need to be prepared is the responsibility of the regional administration. There is a lot of work ahead of us. We have already summed up some intermediate results today. So far there have been no disruptions, everything is on schedule. The weather has been good which is also important," said Vyacheslav Durnov, deputy chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee.

There is a need to think over the transfer of the participants of the event since some of the guests will arrive in Minsk, and some participants of the forum will get there by car, Natalya Kochanova said and called on all those responsible to interact more closely and work more productively.