Kazakhstan, Russia to expand inter-parliamentary cooperation 'by form and by content' - Majilis speaker
ASTANA. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Vyacheslav Volodin and Nurlan Nigmatulin, speakers of lower chambers of Russian and Kazakh parliaments, have agreed to raise the level of inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Volodin and Nigmatulin agreed at a meeting that vice-speakers would head the inter-chamber parliamentary commission for cooperation between the State Duma and the Majilis and that contacts would be maintained at the level of chamber committees.
"We suggest that our inter-parliamentary council continue its activity. We also suggest that deputy chairmen of our chambers lead this body in order to make its work more significant; Vladimir Bashko could head it for our part," Nigmatulin told Volodin at the meeting in Astana.
He said that the commission was set up several years ago and demonstrated successful and dynamic performance.
Cooperation between field-specific committees of the two parliaments could be the next step, he said.
In turn, Volodin said that the composition of the Russian delegation to the inter-chamber parliamentary commission (IPC) for cooperation between the State Duma and the Majilis and the deputy group for liaison with the Kazakh parliament had been approved.
"In addition to the IPC, we deem it important to improve the activity of such bilateral cooperation instruments as inter-parliamentary groups of friendship and consultations between field-specific committees," Volodin said.
He said they should expand relations both by form and by content.
"It is important to boost the potential of the existent cooperation forms and to create new forms. Whenever we speak about developing communication between committees, we expect that move to supplement the opportunities which have already been used for inter-parliamentary diplomacy," he said.
Russia is satisfied with the outcome of November events held by the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly and the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
"The principle task of these organizations is to harmonize and to reconcile legislation of member states in various areas. These are the important fields, such as defense, security, the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption, and crisis response. We urge better monitoring of the adoption and enforcement of model laws and recommendations," Volodin said.
He described as the main task of the two parliaments the legislative support to the decisions made by the two chiefs of state.
Volodin also met with Senate Chairman Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. He congratulated colleagues on the approaching Kazakhstan's Independence Day. "Kazakhstan has achieved a lot in its development within this short period of time," the State Duma speaker said.
In turn, Tokayev noted the important role the State Duma had been playing in Russia's political system. "We are closely watching the State Duma's activity and we are positive that the current parliament of Russia, including the State Duma, will successfully accomplish every task set for you by President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin," he said.
According to State Duma CIS Affairs Committee Chairman and Russian delegation member Leonid Kalashnikov, it has been generally agreed with the head of the Kazakh Majilis International Affairs Committee to hold a visiting session of the two field-specific committees next year. The date and venue of the joint meeting will be determined soon.
