The delegation was led by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Viktor Bondarev.
A delegation from the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security, led by the Committee Chair, Viktor Bondarev, has visited the Hellenic Republic. The delegation included First Deputy Chair of the Committee Sergey Martynov and Committee member Krym Kazanokov.
The Russian senators had a number of meetings held at the Hellenic Parliament including with First Deputy Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis, Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs Konstantinos Gkioulekas and Chairman of the Greece-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group Simos Kedikoglou. They also visited the Greek Ministry of Public Order and Citizens' Protection and met with the Minister, Michalis Chrisochoidis.
According to Viktor Bondarev, Greece is one of Russia’s important partners in Europe. “Russia has made a special contribution to Greece’s fight for independence, and contributed to the formation of its statehood. Our traditions of friendship and mutual assistance have been tested by time; respect and mutual affinity provide a solid foundation for our bilateral relations at present,” he said.
Russian senators once again pointed out to their Greek partners that all the conflicts that persist in the Balkans, the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, Syria and the South Caucasus must be settled exclusively by political and diplomatic means, based on international law and avoidance of any confrontation.
The members of the delegation reaffirmed Russia's principled approach in favour of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of the current UN Security Council resolutions.
During the conversation with Konstantinos Gkioulekas, the parties highlighted Ukraine’s newly-adopted discriminatory law on indigenous peoples.
At the meeting with Michalis Chrisochoidis, the Russian participants reiterated their country’s readiness to cooperate in fighting terrorism, extremism, organised crime, arms trade, illegal migration and drug trafficking, as well as combating cybercrime.
They reaffirmed Russia's interest in a constructive dialogue with the European Union and the removal of trade restrictions, but solely on the principles of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests, and not via unilateral illegitimate demands.