Tiraspol, 1 February. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Vice speaker Galina Antyufeyeva and the chairman of the Obnovleniye [Renewal] faction, Peter Pasat, took part in the 5th Christmas Parliamentary Meetings, which were held in the State Duma in Moscow, the Supreme Council's press service reports.
The meetings are organised under the patronage of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and traditionally attended by members of the State Duma and the Federation Council, representatives of the clergy, public organisations, Russia's Public Chamber members, journalists. The main topic of this year's anniversary meetings is «1917−2017: lessons of the century
Upon returning from Moscow, Peter Pasat shared his impressions about the discussions in the Russian parliament.
«It was an honour to us, elected representatives of the Pridnestrovian people, to take part in this high forum. We took part in a roundtable discussion dedicated to the problem of compatriots abroad. The chairman of the State Duma committee for international affairs, Leonid Slutsky, said with dismay that for the past decade the number of Russian-speaking people had decreased worldwide by 80 million," said Pasat.
Other forum participants also spoke about the ways of developing the Russian world and supporting compatriots abroad, the reasons for opening Russian-language schools and providing them with academic literature. One of the most relevant issue under discussion was acquiring citizenship and the simplification of procedures for its adoption by Russian compatriots living abroad. This is one of the priorities for both authorities and civil society.
According to Peter Pasat, the Pridnestrovian representatives received a warm welcome at the Christmas meetings. Vladimir Krasnoselsky noted in his speech during the meetings: «I am also for a united Moldova, but without Pridnestrovie.»
During the meetings in the State Duma, their participants repeatedly emphasised that the Pridnestrovians are a special category of people, persistent and brave. Moreover, civil peace and order, prevailing in Pridnestrovie today, tolerance inherent in citizens, the absence of ethnic conflicts could serve as an example for the Russian Federation as well," noted Pasat.
He also told about a dialogue with representatives of the political party United Russia. «Our Russian colleagues assured us that at the legislative level, as well as at the party and executive levels, we can and are entitled to rely on support," underscored Peter Pasat.
