Russian Foreign Policy Priority Is Development of Mutually-Beneficial Cooperation in Baltic Region

Sergei Mironov, the speaker of the Federation Council, announced today at the opening of the 11th parliamentary conference of countries of the Baltic Sea that the development of mutually-beneficial cooperation and partnerships in the Baltic region is one of the most important aspects of Russian foreign policy. According to Mironov, Russia would like the region to rank alongside the most dynamically developing parts of Europe. 'We support social and economic growth, high levels of human rights, and political trust and stability in the Baltic region,' said Mironov.

The speaker said that 'the close attention paid by the political leadership of the member countries of the Council of Baltic Sea States to the region's problems produces significant positive results'. He stated that, thanks to joint efforts, the Baltic region 'is pretty much the most stable in Europe'. It has also become 'a zone of partnership and steadfast opposition to new dividing lines springing up on the continent'. Mironov remarked that Russia is 'firmly in favour of further reducing the military potential of the region, and of developing trust and cooperation between the armed forces of Baltic Sea countries'.