FreeAsia2000
Junior Member
Pak-Russia friendship group formed in Russian State Duma
ISLAMABAD, Oct 18 (APP): Pakistan-Russia Friendship Group has been formed in State Duma, National Assembly of the Russian Federation.
The Group is expected to pay goodwill visit to Pakistan by the end of next month.
This is the first-ever Friendship Group for Pakistan to be established in the Russian Parliament, according to a fax message received here from Moscow.
The Group is headed by an eminent politician and a senior parliamentarian Igor Nikolaevich Morozov who is also the Chairman of Duma Committee on Security.
Pak-Russia Friendship Group consists of eleven members of Duma representing all political parties including Igor Nikolaevich Rodionov, a retired general and former Defence Minister of the Russian Federation.
The formation of this Group signifies keen interest of the Russian parliamentarians in Pakistan and their desire to further strengthen relationship between the two countries.
Speaking at the dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Pakistan, Mustafa Kamal Kazi to mark the formation of the Group, Morozov said, Russia attaches great importance to further strengthening the bonds of relationship between the two countries with particular emphasis on enhancing economic ties and improving cooperation in scientific and technical fields.
Morozov further said, the Group will actively work to promote both countries.
The Ambassador in his address appreciated the interest and enthusiasm of the Friendship Group to promoting relationship between Pakistan and Russia. He highlighted avenues of mutually beneficial, economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Ambassador highlighted the fact that friendly relations based on cooperation between Pakistan and Russia have entered threshold of new beginning following President General Pervez Musharraf's visit to Russia in February 2003 and subsequent visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Moscow in October last year gave fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
He further said, "we are partners within the framework of SCO which is seeking to promote economic, cultural and political linkages between the countries of South Asia, Central Asia and Russia."
He added, "we are looking forward in enhancing bilateral cooperation with Russia particularly in the fields of trade and commerce".
The Ambassador assured all cooperation to the Group.
Like I've said in previous posts it's the economics which really make the world go round.
I knew that Russia's policy towards pakistan was due for a massive overhaul
We should expect a whole lot more news items about visits in the next year or so.