MOSCOW, January 24. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian parliament's lower house State Duma appeals to the world community for abiding by an Olympic Truce during the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
Deputies unanimously by a vote of 444 supported the appeal to international parliamentary institutions and national parliaments of United Nations member countries to do everything for a truce to be observed in February and March 2014, during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games and the Paralympics.
This must become a practical and clear manifestation of the common striving of all peace supporters in the world for settlement of any conflicts by political means, legislators noted in a statement.
The ancient tradition of an Olympic Truce is particularly important at present, when the world must find ways to settle existing crises emerging on ethnic or religious hatred grounds and interstate conflicts.
During the time when best athletes of member states of the international Olympic and Paralympic movement meet on sport arenas, there must be no place for violence, inhuman terrorist attacks and any manifestations of hatred and enmity.
Guns must be silent when ideals of sport and friendship win people's minds and hearts on all the continents of the planet. It was and must remain time of peaceful competition and an atmosphere of sincere Olympic friendship and comradeship, the statement noted.
Deputies believe the support of Olympic Truce values and ideals will bring hope to the homes of people who are faced with threats of becoming victims of internal conflicts and terrorist attacks and those who suffer from consequences of humanitarian catastrophes, drone attacks, ethnic purges and calamities caused by wars and combat actions.