Russia Is Again To Chair CIS Interparliamentary Assembly: Chairman

Next year Russia is again to chair the Interparliamentary Assembly of member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Yegor Stroev, speaker of the Federation Council (the upper chamber of Russian parliament) and IPA chairman, told journalists on Friday upon arrival at St.Petersburg. To him, Russia bears the bulk of economic spending on the upkeep and functioning of the Assembly and it would be reasonable if it continued with the chairmanship. The question of change in the IPA chairmanship has emerged because at least on January 1, 2002 Yegor Stroev, in case he retain governorship in the Orel region, is to leave the upper chamber of parliament and, therefore, the post of chairman of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. Yegor Stroev arrived at St.Petersburg for holding a regular IPA plenary session on Saturday. In his opinion, in focus at this session will be "a future for the CIS at the current turning-point stage".