Valentina Matvienko: Interparliamentary dialogue between Russia and Türkiye is based on equality, mutual respect and a balance of interests

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko held a meeting with President of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmus.

The Federation Council Speaker noted that Türkiye was Russia’s good neighbour and valuable partner. “We see that its international and regional prestige has grown over the past few years,” she said.

Valentina Matvienko emphasised that the Russia-Türkiye relations that are based on mutual respect, and multifaceted economic and humanitarian cooperation were growing stronger primarily thanks to presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Political contacts between our heads of state are extremely important, and they have been growing very fast,” she added.

The Federation Council Speaker said that the parliaments’ priorities included the provision of the legal framework for the agreements reached between leaders and active engagement in their implementation. “The interparliamentary dialogue between Russia and Türkiye is based on equality, mutual respect and a balance of interests,” she said.

Valentina Matvienko noted the active efforts of friendship groups and the importance of establishing the High-Level Interparliamentary Commission. She also called for creating more opportunities for interaction between young legislators.

Numan Kurtulmus added that bilateral cooperation was developing across the board. “Relations between Russia and Türkiye have reached a high level and will continue to grow stronger, including thanks to our meetings in Russia,” he said.

The Federation Council Speaker noted that broader interregional ties could seriously contribute to the achievement of the goals set by the two presidents in trade and economic cooperation.

The parliament speakers also discussed investment cooperation, the implementation of strategic energy projects, and interaction in the gas sphere. Valentina Matvienko pointed out the high development potential of the tourism sector.

She spoke highly about the independent foreign policy of Türkiye, which is focused on meeting national interests, and its interest in BRICS, where Russia is holding the rotating chairmanship.

The meeting participants also talked about the situation in the Middle East. “Tensions here are running high. We regard the developments in Lebanon as an act of the hybrid war, which has already affected thousands of innocent people,” Valentina Matvienko said.

“The current round of escalation is rooted in the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Our countries share a common view on solutions to that unprecedented crisis: the bloodshed must stop as soon as possible, and conditions must be created for providing humanitarian assistance,” the Federation Council Speaker pointed out.

Valentina Matvienko expressed confidence that the visit of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to Russia would help strengthen all aspects of Russian-Turkish relations and boost their interparliamentary ties.

Th meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Alexander Varfolomeev, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy and head of the friendship group with the Turkish Parliament Murat Khapsirokov, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Mohmad Akhmadov, and member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Yelena Afanaseva.