As the press service of the Estonian parliament reports, during the trip the commission members will meet with their colleagues in the State Duma, and also experts from the administration of the Russian President and the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to delegation head and chairman of the Estonian parliament commission for foreign affairs Marko Mihkelson, inter-parliamentarian contacts are important as such; however, they can play a special role now that considerable changes have taken place and are taking place in Europe and the world.
"In these conditions it is necessary to meet and exchange information both on bilateral relations and the international situation," Mr. Mihkelson believes. "We are seeking relations to be based on pragmatic considerations rather than on emotions." During their visit scheduled to last until April 14, the Estonian parliamentarians intend to invite their Russian colleagues to hold the next meeting in Estonia.
On April 2 Estonia, together with Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania became NATO members de jure. On May 1 Estonia and nine other countries of Eastern and Central Europe will join the European Union.
