G8 parliament speakers discussing nuke disarmament issues

Issues of nuclear disarmament and specifics of the work of two-chamber systems are the main issues of a summit of the parliamentary G8 underway in Hiroshima.


The heads of the lower houses of the parliaments of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia, the United States, France and Japan will hold on Tuesday the main part of the discussion the results of which will be summarised at a press conference by Japanese speaker Yohei Kono presiding at the meeting.

Sources on the sidelines of the summit noted that the parliamentary G8 has remained loyal to the tradition not to reconsider the rules of procedure drawn up in advance.

That is neither the announcement of the Japanese prime minister’s resignation nor the situation around the North Caucasian developments have affected the programme of the discussion. However, head of the international affairs committee of the State Duma lower house of Russia’s parliament Konstantin Kosachev said that the Russian side “understands that an interest may be displayed towards the Caucasus events” and in this connection is ready to explain its position. Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov has already given detailed explanations on this matter during bilateral contacts and expressed readiness to make a special statement to all the participants if necessary.

Gryzlov in detail explained the Russian position at meetings with the Japanese, Italian and French colleagues. Yohei Kono for his part called for the settlement of the conflict with the participation of the international community.

Head of the lower house of the Italian parliament Gianfranco Fini called on Europe not to take a step back towards Russia. Fini believes it would be a mistake for the European Union and Georgia to revise relations with Russia.

“It would be a mistake for the EU and for Georgia to take a step backwards in relations with Russia,” Fini said at a meeting with the speaker of the Russian State Duma lower house of parliament ahead the G8 speakers’ summit in Hiroshima.

The summit was also expected to consider future relations between Russia and Europe in light of the latest events in the North Caucasus. Gryzlov, for his part, noted that he believed “Russia and the EU have no insurmountable contradictions.” “Our relations must develop,” he added.

The two speakers also discussed bilateral relations, and confirmed, in particular, that a session of the bilateral Inter-parliamentary commission will be held in Rome on November 24-27. The Russian part of the commission will be led by Gryzlov.

French parliament speaker Bernard Accoyer called for the observance of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan and for the adoption of the political decision with thin the international law framework. On Tuesday, Boris Gryzlov also intends to separately meet chairman of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert.

Summits of the parliamentary G8 have been called regularly after meetings of the Group of Eight leaders since 2002. The agenda traditionally includes two items. One of them is linked with the preceding summit of G8 leaders.

On the initiative of the Japanese side that is currently presiding in the G8, this time the parliaments’ contribution to the strengthening of peace and security is on the agenda. Japan, in particular, intends to focus on nuclear non-proliferation issues. The choice of Hiroshima as the forum’s venue is symbolical in this connection.

The second item as a rule is linked exclusively with the lawmaking sphere. In this case it is the specifics of decision-making in countries with the bicameral system.

Tass