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MK-Novosti, March 15, 2003

Vladimir Lukin: the President will speed up ratification of the European Social Charter

"It is even good that things went this way," commented Vladimir Lukin (YABLOKO), deputy speaker of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, in an interview with MK-Novosti, on the rejection by the State Duma at its plenary meeting on March 14, 2003, of the draft resolution, calling on the President to speed up ratification of the European Social Charter.

Vladimir Lukin expressed his conviction that, following the Duma's debate of this issue, the President would order the commission headed by Labour Minister Alexander Pochinok to speed up preparations to ratify the European Social Charter, and that the deputies who voted against this motion and thereby demonstrated their anti-social attitude would subsequently act as if they had been promoting ratification of the European Social Charter. During a Duma debate Alexei Mitrofanov (LDPR) opposed the draft resolution to ratify the European Charter on the grounds that this would provide international organisations with an opportunity to control Russia and that they would start "teaching us how to live".

Lukin also responded to questions from journalists about the consequences of the anticipated US operations in Iraq. Lukin does not overestimate the economic consequences, as Iraq will not increase oil production under American leadership, and the USA is not interested in a surge in oil prices, and their own production in Alaska has been falling.

On the other hand, noted Lukin, after the US aggression, if conducted unilaterally, the world would become even more dangerous. According to Lukin, the Americans will win quickly, apart from individual fanatics the Iraqi army will not display any signs of resistance, although problems are bound to arise subsequently.

In addition Lukin answered a question about the US demand that Russia should hand over to the USA Iraqi citizens residing in our country: "Our interior should be subordinate to Russian and not American leadership."

 

See also:

Situation Around Iraq

MK-Novosti, March 15, 2003

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