St. Petersburg hosts CIS parliamentarians

The Tavrichesky Palace, the historical building in St. Petersburg, where the State Duma, the predecessor of the present State Duma, held sessions during the tsarist rule, and where the headquarters of the Interparliamentary Assembly (MPA) are located now, will host its 21st session on Monday.

The General Secretary of the MPA Council reported that the session, in which all heads of parliaments of CIS MPA members are to participate, would spotlight St Petersburg and its role in the history, economy and culture of each CIS state. It is precisely the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly proposed that 2003 be declared the year of St. Petersburg in the CIS countries.

The plenary sessions will consider a number of model laws, including "On State Secrets", "On Non-State Private Guard Activity", the third chapter of the model Tax Code "A Simplified Taxation System for Small Business Subjects" and a new wording of the 5th part of the model Civil Code "Intellectual Property."