Russian and Slovenian Parliament Speakers Exchange Messages for First Time in Four Years

Dragon Media News Desk

The speakers of the Russian and Slovenian parliaments have exchanged messages for the first time in four years, according to Yury Pilipson, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second European Department.

In an interview with TASS, Pilipson made the remarks while commenting on plans by Slovenia’s new National Assembly speaker, Zoran Stevanovic, leader of the Resni.ca party, to visit Moscow.

He welcomed the initiative as a sign that some European politicians are showing a more pragmatic approach and supporting the restoration of dialogue with Russia.

According to Pilipson, the latest exchange between the Russian and Slovenian parliamentary speakers marked the first such contact after a four year hiatus. He reiterated Moscow’s position that the interruption of interparliamentary dialogue had occurred at Ljubljana’s initiative.

Pilipson said, however, that arranging a direct meeting between the heads of the two countries’ highest legislative bodies would require a substantive agenda and a realistic prospect of restoring bilateral parliamentary contacts.

He also noted that Slovenia’s foreign policy is determined primarily by the government. In Moscow’s assessment, statements by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer continue to reflect the European Union and NATO’s critical policy toward Russia.

For that reason, Pilipson said Moscow should not expect a rapid normalization of relations with Ljubljana.

Nevertheless, Russia views the resumption of parliamentary level contact after four years as a potentially positive indication that channels for dialogue could gradually reopen.