A.Rubinov and V.Matvienko Sign Cooperation Agreement between Upper Chambers of Belarusian and Russian Parliaments (video)

On June 4th Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Anatoly Rubinov and Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko signed a cooperation agreement between Upper Chambers of both countries’ Parliaments.

On June 4^th Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Anatoly Rubinov and Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko signed a cooperation agreement between Upper Chambers of both countries’ Parliaments.

During the signing ceremony Valentina Matvienko said that “this agreement should help us to clear up the most pressing problems as well as maximize the efficiency of interaction between the parliaments”. She also expressed hope that the agreement would facilitate inter-parliamentary work within the framework of integration processes on the post-Soviet area. “Once elections to the National Assembly of Belarus are over, we will create an inter-parliamentary group on co-operation and work out an action plan to implement this agreement,” added the Chairman of the Federation Council.

The head of the Upper Chamber of Russia’s Parliament reminded those present that the previous agreement had been kept to for about 10 years, yet now it is necessary to sign a new document which will determine the priorities for inter-parliamentary cooperation. “Times are changing, Belarus and Russia have opened a new page of cooperation,” said Valentina Matvienko. “Russia and Belarus have entered a qualitatively new stage of cooperation. They are strategic partners that develop relations not only within the framework of bilateral cooperation and the Union State, but also within integration unions on the post-Soviet area. This fact opens up new opportunities for more intensive cooperation”.

“The new agreement reflects new realities. It’s a new phase of our inter-parliamentary cooperation,” stated the Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia.

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