DEPUTIES OF RUSSIA'S FEDERAL ASSEMBLY AND NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY MEET IN BRUSSELS








MOSCOW, March 5, 2001 /From RIA Novosti correspondent/--On March 5 and 6, NATO's Brussels-based headquarters host the first session of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation - Parliamentary Assembly of NATO working group since the cooldown in relations between Russia and NATO caused by the alliance's bombings in Yugoslavia.


	The delegation of the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, is headed by first vice speaker Lyubov Sliska.


	Before leaving for Brussels, Ms. Sliska told journalists that the delegation was "in for an important meeting that is expected to produce concrete results. Our major goal is to develop the political aspect of Russia-NATO relations." The other topic to be discussed is NATO's eastward enlargement. "What NATO Secretary-General said after his recent trip to Moscow about Russia's willingness to compromise was too optimistic, so we are going to get Russia's firm position on the subject across to NATO parliamentarians," Ms. Sliska stressed.


	According to the first vice speaker, Russian deputies intend to present several proposals concerning Russia-NATO cooperation. "Russia is ready to suggest non-traditional cooperation," she noted.


	On his part, Chairman of the State Duma Security Committee Alexander Gurov said his proposals to NATO included joint actions to combat the flow of smuggled drugs and weapons along the Afghanistan-Caucasus-Bosnia route. "Should Islamic extremists fortify their positions in these areas, the inflow of weapons and drugs to Europe, as well as export of terrorism, will increase," explained Gurov.