The Federation Council Speaker addressed the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Istanbul.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko said at the general debate of the IPU Assembly, themed “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations,” that the international community has not yet created a really collective, universal and indivisible security system.
“We are meeting at troubled times. There have been horrible tragedies in our history, but not even two world wars are a safe protection from a third world war, the risk of which is larger than ever,” the Federation Council Speaker said.
According to her, the reason for this is that international law and the UN Charter can only be fully effective on the basis of respect for the principles of equality and responsibility of all countries. Valentina Matvienko reminded the audience that after the Cold War a group of NATO countries opted for reliance on hegemony and economic and military might, and worked to force their interests and peculiar values on the rest of the world.
“Globalisation instruments were initially designed to serve the whole of humanity. These include global currencies, international financial institutions, interbank settlement mechanisms, the insurance of maritime transportation, and even international prizes in science, literature, music and cinema. But in practice they are serving the interests of only one pole. It is therefore logical that it has become one of the key themes at this Assembly,” she stated.
The situation is the same in geopolitics, Valentina Matvienko added. “The principle of indivisible security enshrined in international law has been zeroed out by the unrestrained expansion of the West, which is forming blocs that are not regulated by universal law. The member states of these blocs attacked Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya. The attack on international peacekeepers in South Ossetia followed immediately after Georgia and Ukraine received the invitation to join NATO in 2008. Five years later, a state coup was held in Ukraine with support from the same group of countries.”
The Federation Council Speaker recalled that President Vladimir Putin proposed considering a global security architecture as the basis of a multipolar world back in 2007. “Russia advanced concrete proposals in 2008 and 2021, both of which were regrettably rejected.”
Many conflicts in Europe, Afghanistan and the Middle East, including the current escalation around Iran, could have been prevented if the rules-based world order was replaced with a world based on the priority of international law, the UN Charter and equal security for all nations, Valentina Matvienko said.
“The consequences of aggressions affect all countries. The war in the Middle East has aggravated hunger and poverty on the planet, and has led to a large-scale energy crisis. There is a growing risk of migration and environmental disasters. Innocent civilians, including women, the elderly and children, are dying, yet the world seems unable to put an end to these crimes. Law and morals have been cast aside by those who have applied force without the sanction of the UN Security Council. There can be no political or any other justification for the horrible tragedy in Minab, an Iranian city where innocent children were killed. I have no doubt that all of us wish success to the peace talks aimed at ending the war between Iran and the United States.”
The Federation Council Speaker pointed out that President Putin advanced the idea of Eurasian security architecture in 2024. “It is not spearheaded against anyone, will not replace the current international ties, and is open to all countries in Asia and Europe. A Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century could become a major element of this architecture.” The Speaker added that Russia’s concept of collective security in the Persian Gulf has acquired a special significance today.
“The IPU members try to openly discuss all significant issues. Regrettably, we do not always succeed,” she said. “The tragedy of the Gaza Strip and several other acute issues have escaped the IPU’s attention. Few dare to openly speak about the root causes of that conflict, which means that we will not be protected from a repetition of tragedies affecting entire regions in the future,” the head of the upper house of Russia’s parliament stated.
She believes, however, that parliamentary diplomacy has inexhaustible potential. “The mission of the IPU, which is to promote peace, democracy and cooperation among nations, is more relevant than ever. Throughout the IPU history, eight of its presidents have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Let’s work together to restore hope, peace and justice in the world, which is only possible in a more just multipolar world,” Valentina Matvienko concluded.