Kiev parliamentary forums to focus on new EU security architecture

KIEV, July 13 (Itar-Tass) -- An international parliamentary conference
on European security will be held in the Ukrainian capital on Monday. The
conference will be held the Verkhovna (Supreme) Rada involving Federation
Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, the speakers of the CIS parliaments,
President of the European Security and Defence Assembly Robert Walter, as
well as lawmakers from the legislative assemblies from several European
countries.
Secretary General of the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly Mikhail Krotov told Itar-Tass that the conference would focus
attention on European security problems due to the striving "at the
parliamentary level to find some ways for creating a new European security
architecture." He noted that many Western politicians agreed that " the
current security model is not ideal that demonstrates many conflicts and
flashpoints in Europe." According to him, Robert Walter has recently
stated that such a system should be formed that would ensure security for
all European countries.
The fact that Kiev was chosen as a venue of this conference Krotov
called the recognition of "Ukraine's great role on the post-Soviet space
and in Europe on the whole." He expressed hope that the forum will give an
additional impetus for the development of good neighbourly relations
between Ukraine and Russia, between all European countries.
After the conference the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly will also hold a visiting session at the Verkhovna Rada. The
meeting will be devoted to the anniversary dates of famous Ukrainian poet
Taras Shevchenko. In 2011 the 150th anniversary of Shevchenko's death will
be marked, and the 200th birthday anniversary will be celebrated in 2014.
The speakers of the CIS parliaments will consider the preparations to
these memorable dates. The chairman of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly
Council and the speaker of the Federation Council, Sergei Mironov, and
Verkhovna Rada Speaker Vladimir Litvin will deliver reports at the
meeting. The Council is planning to make an appeal to declare 2014 as the
Year of Shevchenko in the CIS states. The life and creative works of this
great poet and painter is closely connected not only with Ukraine, but
also with Russia and Kazakhstan, Krotov recalled. In his view, this
Ukrainian initiative will be supported by all CIS parliaments, as it
"makes part of a humanitarian space under formation and its common goals."
-0-baz