Russian, UK parliamentarians call for creating united front to combat IS

MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. Members of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee and the Defense Committee of the UK Parliament's House of Commons have spoken out in favor of creating a single front to fight against the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) at a meeting on Tuesday.

"The two sides noted the need to create a united international front to fight against the Islamic State terrorist group banned in Russia," the press service of the State Duma committee reported after the meeting, which was held for the first time.

"The Russian lawmakers discussed with their British counterparts the key issues on the agenda - the situation in Syria and in Ukraine. The British delegation expressed interest in Russia’s enhanced activities in the Arctic," the press release said. During the discussion the Russian parliamentarians pointed to the complex nature of the current stage of bilateral relations, "paid considerable attention to explaining the Russian approaches towards resolving the major issues on the international agenda, which is, as the British colleagues recognized, is unproductive without Russia’s involvement."

Among the issues discussed at the meeting were the role and place of the two countries’ legislative bodies in the domestic military affairs and the possible contribution of the national parliaments to mending relations between Moscow and London. "The two sides recognized the need to develop new forms of dialogue between the two countries’ parliaments and launch regular inter-parliamentary cooperation," the committee’s press service said.

The Russian side was represented by members of the State Duma Defense Committee led by its Chairman Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov. The UK delegation was headed by John Spellar, a Labor MP and former Defense Minister.