Russian State Duma to become PARLACEN observer - speaker

MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma plans to sign an agreement on Monday to become a permanent observer of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said at the Russia-Latin America Conference on Monday.

The State Duma will become the second parliament to join the activity of PARLACEN, which unites ten Latin American countries, he said.

Volodin called for setting up a high-level commission with PARLACEN "to ensure systemic work on developing relations in the parliamentary sphere."

Over 200 delegates, including parliament members from most Latin American and Caribbean countries, experts, public figures and diplomats, are taking part in the First Russia-Latin America Parliamentary Conference in Moscow.