Valentina Matvienko expects the 137th IPU Assembly could become the most representative of all time

Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko told the media about preparations for the hosting of the 137^th IPU Assembly, which will be held on 14-18 October 2017 in St. Petersburg. “130 countries have already agreed to take part in the IPU Assembly, and delegations from 50 countries have passed their registration. We believe this will be the most representative assembly of all those held in the recent years”, the Speaker noted. She stressed that Russia had provided guarantees that there would be no restrictions for members of parliaments in terms of composition of national delegations. “Our position, which we have expressed, is that any sanctions against parliamentarians are inadmissible. They must engage in a dialogue while representing the interests of voters. By granting everyone an opportunity to attend, we are building conditions for a free, open, and unbiased dialogue of all parliaments for them to express their points of view”, said Valentina Matvienko.

The session will elect a new IPU President and adopt the resolution "20^th anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Democracy: the Commonality of Diversity".

The IPA CIS became the 11th associated member of the IPU, a major and respected global interparliamentary body, together with the PA CE, Latin American Parliament, Central American Parliament, European Parliament and others.