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Putin to address Federation Council on June 27

He is expected to speak about the legal status of Federation Council members and changed principles of the formation of the Federation Council

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, June 26 (Itar-Tass) — President Vladimir Putin is to address the Federation Council (FC) upper house of the Federal Assembly (parliament) here on Wednesday, focusing on interaction between the Houses of Parliament. He will analyze the FC activities from the viewpoint of refinement of legislation, the State policy, and the development of federalism.

The Head of State is expected to touch upon the question of legal status of the FC members and on the theme of changing principles for the formation of the FC, the Kremlin press service announced.

At Wednesday's meeting, the FC is also to discuss a number of other matters, including those concerning ratification of documents within the framework of the Customs Union (CU) of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.

In particular, the FC members are to ratify an agreement on an exchange of electronic documents in foreign and reciprocal trade within the scope of the common customs territory of the three countries; mull ratification of an agreement on the functioning and development of an integrated information system for trade inside the CU; consider ratification of an agreement with Tajikistan -- a post-Soviet country which is not a party to the CU so far but which has a special relationship with the Russian Federation (RF).

The latter Agreement refers to the two countries' cooperation in the conduct of work to ensure the safety of the disposal of solid rocket fuel products and waste containing beryllium. "The provisions of the Agreement contribute to fuflfilment by the sides of international obligations on non-proliferation of technologies and rocket equipment," FC materials point out. The FC members are also to discuss ratification of an agreement between the RF and Italy on transit air transportation to Afghanistan.

The House is to discuss the question of endorsement of the initiative proposed by the State Duma lower house of parliament to institute a new memorable date in Russia -- a Day of the Russian Navy's Victory over the Turkish naval squadron in Cesme Bay in 1770. It is suggested that the Day be marked on July 7.

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