The Speaker of the Federation Council had a conversation with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the sidelines of the organisation’s 152nd Assembly in Istanbul.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko, who headed the Russian parliamentary delegation to the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, had a meeting with IPU President Tulia Ackson.
Valentina Matvienko started by praising the IPU for the effective arrangements for its Assembly, the fact that the participating countries were represented at a high level, as well as for creating a favourable atmosphere for encouraging constructive dialogue.
With the world in turmoil and the international security framework crumbling, the IPU’s mission consists of promoting peace, democracy and cooperation among nations, and this mission has never been more relevant, the Federation Council Speaker pointed out.
She went on to recognise and praise Tulia Ackson for her effective consolidating role as IPU President as she prepares to leave this position this year. “Despite all the international turbulence and external pressure, you have been able to ensure that the Inter-Parliamentary Union remains an impartial and independent international parliamentary platform where anyone can freely speak one’s mind,” the Federation Council Speaker pointed out, placing a special emphasis on the importance of promoting a unifying agenda.
The Federation Council Speaker also congratulated Tulia Ackson on the fact that her country, Tanzania, will be hosting the next IPU Assembly.
This year is special for Russia, Valentina Matvienko stressed. “We are marking 120 years of our country’s participation in the IPU. This has been a long and very substantive journey. The 137th IPU Assembly which took place in St Petersburg in 2017 has a special place in this history since it set a record in terms of the number of participants and level of representation.”
Speaking on behalf of the Russian delegation, the Federation Council Speaker reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to further contributing to IPU’s work.
During the conversation, Valentina Matvienko and Tulia Ackson discussed IPU’s activities, including Russia’s initiative to create the BRICS-plus geopolitical group within the IPU.
Tulia Ackson thanked Valentina Matvienko and all Russian parliamentarians for their proactive contribution to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s work and for their constructive efforts.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoi also took part in the meeting.