On September 6, 2016, the Federation Council of the Russian Federation was the venue for presentation of report "Russia-France: a Parliamentary Glimpse into the Future" prepared by Council's Foreign Affairs Committee in assistance with main Russian think tanks including RIAC.
On September 6, 2016, the Federation Council of the Russian Federation was the venue for presentation of report "Russia-France: a Parliamentary Glimpse into the Future" prepared by Council's Foreign Affairs Committee in assistance with main Russian think tanks including RIAC.
Summing up the results, Committee's Chairman Konstantin Kosachev mentioned that the paper offers a balanced and competent response to the French Senate's publication on Russian-French relations to be followed by a joint document of the two upper houses on opportunities for constructive interaction of the two countries. The initiative was vigorously supported by French Ambassador in Russia Jean-Maurice Ripert who attended the event.
The comments came from members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, Foreign Ministry representatives, experts and practical workers. In his brief account RIAC Deputy Program Director Timur Makhmutov said that almost three years ago RIAC did a similar job in partnership with L'Observatoire think tank. In October 2013 paper "Russia-France. 20 Proposals for Future Partnership" was published. That time, the expert-level diplomacy worked, and the materials found proper response in the two foreign ministries.
What we see now is strengthening of inter-parliamentary ties, and the 2017 release of the Russian-French report may offer a vital milestone in the relations between Russia and Europe.
