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Ambassador says legislators could help improve Russian-Lithuanian relations

According to the Russian ambassador, the two countries' parliaments have a great influence on bilateral relations

VILNIUS, January 9. /TASS/. Russian and Lithuanian members of parliament could initiate an improvement in relations between the two countries, Russia’s ambassador to Lithuania Alexander Udaltsov told reporters after meeting with Speaker of the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament) Viktoras Pranckietis.

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According to the Russian ambassador, the Seimas and the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament) have a great influence on bilateral relations. "At present we can’t call our relations good. We should think how we could change the atmosphere and create more favorable conditions for dialogue," the Russian diplomat noted.

He also said that he had been briefed on a group for inter-parliamentary relations with Russia being formed by the Seimas members. "We believe this to be a very positive step. We have agreed that all resources should be used in order to boost cooperation between legislators," Udaltsov said. He added that he would inform Moscow on the necessity to establish such group on inter-parliamentary relations in the State Duma and arrange an early meeting between the two countries’ lawmakers.

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