Russian Parliamentarians To Meet With Ukrainian Counterparts In Kiev

MOSCOW, Russia -- Representatives of both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, will go to Kiev to hold talks with deputies of the Ukrainian Supreme Rada, member of the Federation Council's committee for CIS affairs Vasily Duma told journalists.


Russian State Duma
In his words, the delegation comprises members of the Russian-Ukrainian inter-parliamentary commission for cooperation.

This is the first visit to Ukraine of the commission members after the election of new President Viktor Yushchenko, Mr. Duma noted.

According to him, the inter-parliamentary commission is to discuss legislative and practical issues of the implementation of Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental agreements. The talks will also focus on the whole range of lawmaking activities aimed to promote bilateral links and cooperation in the economic, scientific-technical and cultural spheres.

Moreover, at issue will be the improvement of legislation of the two countries in the sphere of labor migration. According to official information, about 2 million Ukrainians work on Russian territory, Mr. Duma said adding that their unofficial number is twice bigger.

Ukraine's relations with the European Union and its prospects to join this organization will be on the agenda of the talks. [The post of the European Integration Minister was introduced in the Ukrainian government under Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, the main ideologist of the orange revolution].

The opening of a Russian cultural center in Ukraine will be discussed, as well. The sides signed a relevant agreement and a Ukrainian cultural center was opened in Russia, Vasily Duma said. "We expected the new Ukrainian leadership to consider this issue," he noted.