Interest was expressed in promoting not only bilateral interparliamentary dialogue, but also cooperation on multilateral platforms.
Members of the Federation Council's cooperation group with the parliaments of Latin American countries met with members of the friendship group with Russia of the Chamber of Senators of the National Congress of the Republic of Paraguay.
The meeting, held via videoconference, was chaired by Andrey Klishas, Head of the Federation Council group for cooperation with the parliaments of Latin American countries. The Paraguayan side was represented by Lourdes Noelia Cabrera Petters, Deputy Head of the friendship group with Russia of the Chamber of Senators of the National Congress of the Republic of Paraguay.
The event was also attended by Russian senators Andrey Denisov, Natalia Kosykhina, Alexei Kondratenko, Andrey Chernyshev and senators of Paraguay.
Andrey Klishas noted that the previous similar contact took place in March 2021: “In the context of global instability, the demand for and importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for harmonising interstate communication and enhancing the effectiveness of the international relations system is growing. This is especially relevant in the interests of building a just, multipolar world order based on a balance of interests of all states,” the senator emphasised.
He assured that Russian parliamentarians were committed to developing not only bilateral interparliamentary dialogue, but also contacts at multilateral platforms.
“We believe it important to strengthen our interaction with regional parliamentary associations of Latin America and the Caribbean. In this regard, the Parliament of the Latin American and Caribbean States (PARLATINO) and the MERCOSUR Parliament play an important role. The Federation Council already has cooperation agreements with these institutions,” Andrey Klishas said.
The senator welcomed Paraguayan representatives’ participation in international forums held in Russia, including parliamentary ones. He suggested that his Paraguayan colleagues establish a direct dialogue with the Council of the Eurasian Women’s Forum at the Federation Council.
During his speech, Andrey Klishas highlighted several potential areas for deepening Russian-Paraguayan inter-parliamentary cooperation, such as the possible opening of the Consulate General of the Republic of Paraguay in St Petersburg, or in the trade, economic, cultural and educational spheres.
“A number of draft bilateral agreements are already at an advanced stage of consideration. We believe it is important to return to coordinating these documents, given the significant practical benefits their entry into force would bring,” Andrey Klishas concluded.
Lourdes Noelia Cabrera Peters noted that the composition of the Paraguayan friendship group had been updated with new senators joining its ranks. According to her, the current meeting reflects the openness of relations between the parliaments of the two countries and emphasised the interest of Paraguayan parliamentarians in continuing and expanding contacts with their Russian colleagues in order to develop mutually beneficial ties in the interests of both nations and their peoples.
The prospects for strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between the highest legislative bodies of Russia and Paraguay was also discussed.
The conversation was also attended by Russian Chargé d’Affaires in the Republic of Paraguay Alexey Osipov and Paraguayan Chargé d’Affaires in the Russian Federation Victor Hugo Peña Bareiro.