Procedure of Russia's entry into Association of European Senates may start at Friday session of this organisation

The procedure of Russia's entry into the Association of European Senates may start at the third session of this organisation on Friday. This was stated by Speaker of the Federation Council (Lower House of the Russian Parliament) Sergei Mironov who arrived in Ljubljana to attend the Association's session.

The Association of European Senates was founded in 2000 in Paris. Its members are senators of the parliaments of the member-countries of the European Union. The aim of the organisation is to study and to develop the two-chamber system of parliamentary democracy.

Sergei Mironov said that he did not "doubt the necessity of the Federation Council to be represented in this Association." "Any additional format of international parliamentary relations is always favourable," said the Federation Council Speaker.

According to Sergei Mironov, in his speech at this session he intends to raise the question of the Kaliningrad region (the Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea), in particular, the problem of a non-visa regime for the Russian citizens to go to that region and back. "The rights of Russia in this question cannot be infringed upon and we, parliamentarians, are duty bound to remind our colleagues about it," he said.

The day before Sergei Mironov met with Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Drnovsek. The sides discussed the prospects of the development of trade and economic relations, including in the military-technological sphere. According to the Speaker of the Federation Council, "Slovenia is interested in the Russian armour," and in this respect "we have great prospects." The Speaker and the Prime Minister also discussed bilateral relations between Russia and Slovenia on the eve of the visit to Moscow by the Slovenian Prime Minister which has been scheduled for July 17. It is expected that during this visit the sides will sign a declaration on friendship and cooperation between Russia and Slovenia which, according to Sergei Mironov, will become "a basis for developing relations between our states."