Viktor Chernomyrdin Welcomes Unification Of Russian Centrist Parties

Viktor Chernomyrdin, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine and a former premier, welcomes unification of Russia's centrist parties into the All-Russian party "Unity and Fatherland". During the break in the constituent congress of the party, which took place in Moscow on Saturday, he described as a very important fact that the unification occurred not only in the Parliament at the level of Duma factions but in the regions. He emphasized that relations between the new political party and the president "would be constructive". At the same time, Chernomyrdin indicated, to be the majority party, something the "United Russia" leader declared Saturday as their aim, means great responsibility.