Events

Valentina Matvienko: Traditions of friendship and mutual respect are a foundation for Russia-Uzbekistan relations

The Speaker of the Federation Council held a meeting with the Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan; they signed a cooperation agreement between the upper chambers of Russian and Uzbek parliaments


Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Nigmatilla Yuldashev.

“The visit of our colleagues from the Senate of the Oliy Majlis confirms our mutual interest in enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation. Traditions of friendship and mutual respect are a foundation for Russia-Uzbekistan relations,” Ms Matvienko emphasised.

She noted the substantial increase in Russia-Uzbekistan inter-parliamentary activity in the past two years and expressed confidence that lawmakers can play a major role in the further development of interstate cooperation, including at the regional level.

 Valentina Matvienko suggested stepping coordination of legislative initiatives at international venues. “I would like to hope that our Uzbek colleagues will become observers in the IPA CIS as a first step,” she said.

She also discussed the entire range of bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation, which covers the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian, educational and investment areas, sports and tourism.

Nigmatilla Yuldashev said that owing to the leaders of the two countries, Russia-Uzbekistan relations have acquired the character of a strategic partnership and alliance. “Comprehensive expansion of mutually beneficial relations with Russia is a priority for Uzbekistan,” he said, adding that a substantial increase in the level of bilateral ties in all areas of interstate cooperation with Russia would meet the interests of his country.

“Consolidation of ties between the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and the Federation Council is one of our key priorities. Tashkent is ready to expand interaction in order to make Russia-Uzbekistan dialogue more dynamic,” Mr Yuldashev said.

He described goals of the joint road map at the Russian-Uzbek Inter-Parliamentary Commission on Cooperation for 2019.

The co-chairs of the Commission on Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Senate of Uzbekistan, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov and First Deputy Speaker of the Senate of Uzbekistan Sadyk Safayev told the participants about the results of the commission’s third meeting today.

 Mr Yuldashev invited Ms Matvienko to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.

A cooperation agreement between the Federation Council and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan was signed.

As the heads of the upper chambers of the two parliaments noted in their joint statement after the signing ceremony, the document consolidates the legal foundation of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The meeting and talks were also attended by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Lyudmila Bokova, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, Russian members of the Commission — First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Sergei Lisovsky, member of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Alexander Yermakov, member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Tatyana Lebedeva, member of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets Akhmat Salpagarov and member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Musa Chiliyev.