MOSCOW, November 1 (Itar-Tass) —— Full accord on all international problems will never be achieved by Russia and NATO, but, on the whole, Russia and NATO are working effectively, Lyubov Sliska, deputy speaker of the State Duma, told journalists on Tuesday, commenting on the results of a meeting with a delegation of the Bureau of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which is led by Karl Lamers, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Heads and representatives of the key Duma committees attended the meeting.
According to Ms. Sliska, “rather constructive relations have taken shape over the past 20 years between the Duma and the NATO parliamentary delegation, between Russia and NATO in general, during the functioning of the Russia-NATO Council.” “On some occasions we found compromises and joint solutions. It is clear that mutual agreement on all problems will never take place. Unfortunately, after-effects of the ‘cold war’ times still influence our colleagues from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, as well as some Russians,” she continued. Ms. Sliska assured the guests that, despite the coming parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia, “the continuity of Russian policy will remain unchanged, including within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council, which was created in 2002.” “Our colleagues accept rather adequately our criticism on various problems. Today we discussed Libya and expressed our misgivings over Syria,” she said.
NATO representatives mentioned, in their turn, the problem of Georgia and the expansion of Eurasia. The creation of the EuroABM system was also discussed at the meeting. Karl Lamers told journalists that we should create it as a common system, because it is defensive by its character, and if Russia took part in its creation, it would gradually realise what it was like and for what purpose it was being created. He specially pointed out at the meeting that the creation of the ABM system should be discussed within the framework of the agreements reached at the summit of the Russia-NATO Council in Lisbon on November 20.
In this connection he pointed to the special role played by parliamentary talks. According to Lamers, the stands of Russia and NATO fully coincide on the problem of the war on terrorism and on security in the energy sphere. “If we keep aside the problem of ABM defence, we may evaluate the work of the Russia-NATO Council as rather effective. We would like very much to keep it this way,” Ms. Sliska said.