Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the State Duma's international affairs committee, told a news conference in Brussels: "We believe our bilateral parliamentary interaction is highly promising. Belgian politicians, representing both parties in power and in opposition, hold well-balanced and constructive positions that look to the future on many issues that are important to Russia."
Kosachev said Russia had taken note that a majority of Belgian parliamentarians had supported former Belgian Interior Minister Patrick Dewael when he announced that Akhmed Zakayev, an emissary for Chechen separatists who is currently on the international wanted list, would be arrested if he arrived in the country. Zakayev was scheduled to visit Brussels in late November last year on the invitation of Belgian parliamentarian Bart Staes to meet with a Russian delegation from the Mothers of Beslan committee, which was set up after the Beslan hostage tragedy in September 2004.
The Belgian position has become a "sound signal and a precedent for those countries that face a similar situation," the Russian parliamentarian said.
Kosachev said that cooperation between the two countries' parliaments was developing, and added that a Belgian delegation from the Senate's foreign relations and defense commission was scheduled to visit Moscow in spring.
Kosachev also proposed to his Belgian counterparts that joint parliamentary discussions be held on European security and on anti-terrorism efforts in the context of upcoming Belgium's presidency in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
