“In the conditions when the USA imposes unilateral sanctions against our countries in violation of international norms and rules of trade and demands from European
allies to stop implementing projects with Iran and Russia, it is necessary to create conditions, including legislative ones, to ensure stable growth in trade
turnover, encourage and protect investments,” Viacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
said at a meeting of the interparliamentary commission of Russia and Iran.
He noted that in 2018, trade between Russia and Iran amounted to $1,741 billion, from January to September, the volume of Russian-Iranian mutual trade exceeded the number for the same period in 2018 by 25.3%.
“The interim agreement that entered into force on October 27, 2019, leading to the creation of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran, should contribute to further growth of mutual trade. This is an important step towards concluding a full-fledged agreement on trade preferences,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
Viacheslav Volodin emphasized the importance of implementing joint projects, in particular, introducing “such mechanisms of their financing that would be effective, on the one hand, and protected from the interference of third countries, on the other.”
“It is necessary to increase the efficiency of interbank interaction, to more actively use settlements in national currencies. Recently, much has been done in this direction,” the Chairman of the State Duma also noted in his speech, adding that in the first quarter of last year, the share of settlements in rubles increased to 59.2%.
Tensions in the Middle East
The development of inter-parliamentary dialogue is necessary not only to strengthen trade cooperation but also to resolve issues related to reducing tension in the Middle East, the Chairman of the State Duma said. “This is a priority topic for us, which should be on the agenda all the time until the situation is changed for the better,” he stressed.
“It is important for all countries to be guided by the norms of international law, the principles of non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states, resolve all issues within the framework of the UN resolution and Charter and abandon double standards. We see how US actions lead to increased tension in the Middle East. This is unacceptable,” said Viacheslav Volodin.
“The silence of European politicians, parliamentary structures, interparliamentary organizations, PACE, the European Parliament only worsens the situation because they are trying to step back, to have an “ostrich attitude”. This is a wrong way, and sooner or later they will become hostages of their choice, but nothing can be done,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
“Our common task is, by joining forces within inter-parliamentary structures, through the dialogue with our colleagues, to do everything so that they also understand their responsibility and proceed from the priority of international norms, rules, and treaties,” he said.
Commission work
Viacheslav Volodin emphasized the effectiveness of the work of the inter-parliamentary commission.
“This format is new, it allows us to consider a wide range of issues,” he said and emphasized that it is necessary to legally ensure decisions adopted at the level of the heads of two states.
“It is extremely important to ensure legislative support of those decisions that allow our countries to develop relations, develop trade, and take a common position on the international platform,” concluded the Chairman of the State Duma. He believes that this will allow parliamentarians not only to better understand each other but also to resolve issues that concern the citizens of Russia and Iran more effectively.
The next meeting of the inter-parliamentary commission of Russia and Iran may be held in the Russian Federation. Chairman of the State Duma Viacheslav Volodin announced this at the end of his visit to Iran. He reminded that the first meeting of the commission took place in Volgograd, and the second was held today in Tehran.
Summing up the visit, Viacheslav Volodin emphasized that everything was done “during this visit to draft a number of proposals for the development of relations, as well as to solve issues that we needed to discuss within the framework of the inter-parliamentary commission.“
