The Federation Council Speaker summed up the autumn session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.
Chair of the CIS IPA Council and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko told journalists following the 56th session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly in Bishkek that it had been one of the most eventful and productive in its history.
She thanked the host country and Jogorku Kenesh Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiyev for the hospitality and efforts to create the necessary conditions for the parliamentarians’ productive work.
“We have become convinced once again that the CIS is highly relevant and important and works for the benefit of the Commonwealth’s countries and peoples. It has seen very good results from economic cooperation and has done well in strengthening its cultural and humanitarian space. This is a format of self-sufficiency and self-worth, a format that works effectively,” Valentina Matvienko said.
The CIS parliamentary dimension makes an immense contribution to the workings of integration and cooperation mechanisms, the Speaker stressed. “The model laws adopted by the IPA stitch together and harmonise legislation in CIS countries and create favourable conditions for mutual trade, investment, broader economic ties, and implementation of major projects.”
The Russian language was among the topics discussed by participants in the plenary session, according to Valentina Matvienko. “It was pleasant to hear that the CIS parliaments and the CIS public intended to preserve the Russian language and use it as the language of interethnic communication and the integration project. They are intent on preserving and developing their national languages, while remaining fully aware of the role of Russian for the future: without it, we would not have been a single entity welded together by a common history and friendship. The session’s Recommendations contain concrete decisions on preserving the Russian language in the CIS space.”
She noted the special atmosphere that distinguishes interactions at the CIS IPA, an atmosphere that is positive, constructive and geared toward strengthening ties of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. “This fully applies to the autumn session in Bishkek, the meetings and conference events held by the CIS IPA.”
The Federation Council’s delegation led by the Speaker was in Kyrgyzstan for a working visit on 15–17 November to attend events of the CIS IPA autumn session. The delegation included Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Andrey Kutepov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on House Rules and Parliamentary Governance Vyacheslav Timchenko, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Andrei Shevchenko, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Alexander Varfolomeev, and First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov.