” “"We have to strengthen mutual trust, cooperate on an equal basis as the key to success, lay stable foundations, take responsibility for the settlement of conflicts and the strengthening of peace". René Van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, starts today a two days’ official visit to Russia: the occasion is the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the State Duma. The journey to Saint Petersburg and the meetings of Van der Linden and other outstanding figures of the CoE come just before Moscow’s taking the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, due on May 19th. "When I was appointed chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly in January 2005, I highlighted explains the Dutch politician the importance of ensuring factual and friendly relations with Russia. Now it’s time we boosted this relation". Today, Van der Linden will jointly chair the "International conference on European parliamentarianism", followed by bilateral meetings with the president of the Duma, Boris Grizlov, the president of the Council of the Federation, Sergueï Mironov, the presidents of the Armenian, Azeri, Georgian and Moldavian parliaments. The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, will attend the special session that will take place in the Tavricheskiy Palace, the seat of the first State Duma from 1906 to 1917.” “
