CIS MPs Discuss Situation in Middle East

A meeting of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Political Issues and International Cooperation was held at the Tavricheskiy Palace under the chairmanship of Chair of the Committee of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan on International Affairs, Defense and Security Aigul Kuspan. The meeting was attended by parliamentarians of the CIS countries and representatives of international organizations.

Deputy Chief of the UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism Murad Tangiev  briefed the participants on the upcoming international conference on countering the use of artificial intelligence and new technologies for terrorist purposes.

Chair of the Committee of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan on Coordination Activities of the Majlisi Milli with the Majlisi Namoyandagon, Executive Power, Public Associations, Mass Media and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda outlined the country’s priorities for its 2025 CIS Chairmanship, including enhancing international positioning and cooperation with other regional organizations.

Deputy Chair of the IPA CIS Commission, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev presented the outcomes of Russia’s BRICS Chairmanship in 2024 and spoke about preparations for the cultural and educational project “Memory Train”.

Leading Research Fellow of the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolay Sukhov delivered an overview of the current crisis in the Middle East. He noted the consequences of the military escalation in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe, displacement, and destruction. He stressed the need for humanitarian corridors, international recognition of Palestinian statehood within 1967 borders, and legal accountability for war crimes.

The Commission supported the Arab Parliament’s request for observer status at the IPA CIS. A decision is expected at Meeting of the IPA CIS Council on 17 April 2025.

Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights Nizami Safarov presented the outcomes of the 15^th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, where MPs discussed the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening multilateral cooperation in Asia.

Members were also informed about recent activities of the 150^th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, including a session of the Eurasia Geopolitical Group, which adopted a statement marking the 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The statement condemned historical revisionism, glorification of Nazism, racial and religious hatred, and all forms of intolerance.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for October–November 2025.