RUSSIAN PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DISCUSS "THORNY" ISSUES








MOSCOW, MARCH 12 /from RIA NOVOSTI's Maria Balynina/ - Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Speaker of the Federation Council [parliament's upper house] Yegor Stroyev met Monday to discuss the issues to be considered at the chamber's March 14 session, Stroyev said to the press following the meeting.


	The issues include amending the 2001 budget to repay Russia's foreign debts and adopting new pension legislation.


	According to Stroyev, the sides also discussed the results of a recent official visit by the Federation Council's delegation to Romania and the Czech Republic. He described the visit as "very fruitful". Stroyev hopes that the Russian parliamentary delegation's visit to the two countries will promote their return to the Russian market. "Romania and the Czech Republic seek not only to have friendly relations with Russia, but also to get back to the Russian market," he noted.