OREANDA-NEWS. July 7, 2008. The parliamentary elections should become a springboard for the development of cooperation between the European Union and Belarus, the EU representatives said at the meeting with the Central Election Commission of Belarus (CEC) that was held in Minsk on July 7.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Belarus Mireille Musso gave a speech as a representative of France, the EU President in 2008. Attending the meeting was Head of the Political Desk of the General Secretariat of the European Union Council Helga Schmidt.

The foreign guests got familiar with the course of the preparation for the parliamentary elections in Belarus, in particular with the organization of observation, the participation of political parties and registration of candidates. The EU representatives expressed their interest in holding the elections in a free and democratic way.

Nikolai Lozovik also said that a great number of international observers will be working at the elections. Their number will be defined by the relevant organizations. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry plans to send invitations to international organizations to participate in the election campaign.

The elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus are set for September 28, 2008. Territorial election committees will have been formed by July 14. The nomination of candidates will start on July 20.