Press release of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Geneva, 2 March 1999
N° 75

The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Anders B. Johnsson, will at 9.30 a.m. on 3 March receive at the IPU Headquarters in Geneva Mr. Guennady SELEZNEV, President of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, together with eight Russian MPs, who are making a bilateral visit to Switzerland. During their talks, the IPU Secretary General and the President of the Duma will discuss matters of common interest such as the issues at stake at the upcoming statutory Conference of the IPU (to be held in Brussels from 10 to 16 April next), the strengthening of the role of MPs in national political institutions, and the urgent need for a parliamentary dimension within the United Nations so that the people's elected representatives can take a greater part in UN debates.

"The 20th century has confirmed this once and for all: there can be no question of a democracy in the strict sense of the word without a plenipotentiary parliament. Parliament is the sole State institution that represents the socio-political landscape of the nation. It is the place where the positions and interests of the various political forces of society are matched. This important role makes parliamentarians particularly responsible for the destiny of their country and of the entire international community", said Mr. SELEZNEV at the 100th Inter-Parliamentary Conference held in Moscow last September. Mr. Guennady SELEZNEV (born in 1947), a journalist by training, is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and has been President of the State Duma since 17 January 1996.

Journalists, photographers and cameramen wishing to attend the briefing should contact Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Press Officer (tel: 9194116 or 9194127; e-mail lb@mail.ipu.org and cd@mail.ipu.org). Mr. Seleznev and the Russian delegation will be accompanied by an interpreter (English/French).

The IPU would be grateful if journalists publishing articles on the meeting would kindly send copies by mail or fax so that this material can be included in the IPU periodical press review.