Russia's Delegation Arrives to Greet Indian Parliament on 50th Birthday

On Tuesday a delegation of the Federal Assembly /bicameral parliament/ of the Russian Federation has arrived in New Delhi to participate in an international interparliamentary conference, gathered on the occasion of the 50th birthday of India's Federal Assembly.

The chief delegates are Mikhail Nikolayev, deputy chairman of the Federation Council (upper chamber), and Anatoly Lukyanov, chairman of the state building committee of the State Duma (lower chamber).

Close contacts have been established between the Russian and Indian parliaments. The exchange of opinion in law-making activities is done on a regular footing. Both the sides view this opinion as very valuable.

At this conference it is supposed, above all, to exchange opinions on such topical problems as the antiterrorist fight, globalization, social protection of the population, reforms towards greater accountability of the executive branch of power.

Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes, Minister for Parliamentary Contacts, Communication and Information Technologies Pramod Mahajan, and the parliamentary opposition leader Sonia Gandhi are expected to speak up on the main items of the agenda.

Parliamentarians from 68 countries are going to participate in the conference, due on January 22 through 24.