PSKOV, August 28 (RIA Novosti, Kristina Rodrigues) - The Council of Europe's assessment of the situation in Russia will be the focus of a two-day international seminar starting in Pskov (northeastern Russia) Sunday, a member of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament said. Mikhail Margelov, the chairman of the Federation Council Committee for Foreign Affairs, said the United Russia party had organized the upcoming seminar with support of the European Democrats political group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). According to Margelov, members of the lower and upper chambers of the Russian parliament, PACE officials and representatives of the Israeli parliament will participate in the seminar.
"The seminar will last for two days and discuss the democratic and conservative values of New Europe, the role of the council of Europe in the modern integration processes, and the cooperation in Europe," Margelov said.
The seminar will focus on the European assessment of the situation in the world and in Russia, Margelov added. "Russian parliamentarians plan to convince their European colleagues to make objective assessments of these events to ensure the success of integration, to bring the positions closer together, and to make the mutual efforts, including those in the sphere of the fight against terrorism more effective," the Federation Council member said.
Another issue of the agenda is the discussion of the democratic processes in countries with different traditions, the official said. Russia has a unique experience in conducting reforms under the rule of a moderate-conservative party, rather than rightist-liberal party, Margelov added.
He said the Pskov region had been chosen specifically to discuss the European values because this region borders with the European Union.
"In addition, the Pskov region has broad experience of economic and humanitarian cooperation with EU countries," Margelov said.
