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Parliament speaker notes importance of Russia-Belarus Union State in current conditions

MINSK, June 10. /TASS/. The Union State of Russia and Belarus and its parliamentary dimension is very important against the backdrop of forcing unequal relations upon the world, Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin said on Friday.

"The practice and principles of developing the Union (State) and its parliamentary dimension are becoming more in demand both on the post-Soviet space and beyond," Naryshkin said at the 50th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

"Our cooperation has provided priceless experience and became an example both for Eurasian economic integration and for establishment of new international inter-parliamentary dialogue platforms," the Duma speaker continued. "It is especially important in the current conditions, when the system of unequal associations infringing on national sovereignty is forced upon the world; when general parliamentary structures, for instance the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, are used inappropriately, that is, not for dialogue but as an instrument of external pressure; when international law, true interests and rights of peoples become hostage to geopolitical ambitions of separate countries that claim exceptionalism and impunity," he added.

"However, I am confident that the brotherhood of our peoples, out historical ties and spiritual values will overcome any trials, and Union parliamentarians will, as before, work for peace with dignity," Naryshkin concluded.

Head of State Duma’s Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Ties with Compatriots Leonid Slutsky said that the relations between Moscow and Minsk cannot be spoilt despite West’s attempts to do so. "Our Western partners are trying with enviable persistence to drive a wedge between our countries, but is impossible to do this, no matter how negative and dismissive their attitude sometimes is toward the Union State," Slutsky said.