The CIS countries are ready to defend their partners' security and sovereignty in case of a threat from the outside, Federation Council Chairman Valentina Matviyenko said on Wednesday.
"It seems very symbolic to me that the solemn session dedicated to the anniversary of the [CIS Interparliamentary] Assembly will be held in Kazakhstan, in Almaty. After all, it was exactly there where the agreement on the creation of the Interparliamentary Assembly was signed 30 years ago. In my opinion, this is the best testimony to the inviolability of the unity of our countries and to the fact that the friendship of our peoples is growing stronger every year. And if a threat comes from the outside we will put up an indestructible wall to protect the security and sovereignty of our partners," said the speaker of the Federation Council, opening the spring session.
She added that the CSTO peacekeeping operation, conducted in Kazakhstan at the beginning of the year, "has clearly proved that".
According to Matviyenko, during the spring session, the senators will continue to work on strengthening inter-parliamentary ties. In particular, they plan to hold the seventh Inter-parliamentary forum "Tajikistan-Russia" and the ninth Forum of regions of Russia and Belarus.
As the chairman of the upper house of parliament noted, this year there will be active international activity through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, APPF, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and PACE. "I would like to add that we have a number of visits of delegations of the Federation Council to Africa, Middle East and Latin America. Important work on the participation of senators in election observation missions in other states will also continue," Matviyenko added.
"Our efforts within the framework of inter-parliamentary contacts should be focused on strengthening the institutions of parliamentary diplomacy, on promoting a unifying positive agenda, explaining Russia's real position, including on European and global security issues. And, of course, we must actively fight the myths and fakes that are spread about our country today," said the speaker of the Federation Council.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS