II International Forum “Parliamentarism Development” kicks off in Moscow

The Forum is organized upon the initiative of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. This year the event brought together around 800 parliamentarians and experts from over 130 countries.

Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Viacheslav Volodin delivered a welcoming address at the plenary session of the forum, commending the role of the event in developing parliamentarism. According to the Chairman, through the constructive dialogue the parliamentarians increase the efficiency of cooperation on the issues, which call for a joint solution, including sustainable development, international security, protection of the environment, elimination of poverty and inequality, countering terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal migration.

Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko also wished the participants of the forum fruitful deliberations. She congratulated everyone on the International Day of Parliamentarism, which is celebrated on 30 June upon the Initiative of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, and called upon all parliaments to participate in the World Conference on Interfaith and Inter-Ethnic Dialogue to take place in Russia on 21 May 2022.

Speaker of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, member of the IPA CIS Council Makhmadsaid Ubaidulloev, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Speaker of the National Council of the Republic of Slovakia Andrei Danko, Speaker of the Great National Assembly of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Shentop, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ali Abdel Aal, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Angola Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the National Council of the Republic of Namibia Margaret Mensah-Williams, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asad Qaiser and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Gabriela Cuevas Barron also spoke at the forum.