In an interview with journalists early on June 9, 2000, Grigory Yavlinsky said: "We are satisfied that the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) supports the initiative of a unification of Russian democratic forces which has been repeatedly proposed by the Yabloko party."

Yavlinsky also stressed that the coalition of democratic forces is a goal that has to be achieved in the present circumstances.

Yavlinsky thinks that the following practical steps could be taken: organisation of a democratic meeting that would convene on a regular basis; creation of a Political Co-ordination Council of the SPS, Yabloko and out of necessity other democratic forces. The decisions of this Council would be binding on all the participants; further development of the present mechanisms for co-ordinating the legislative activity of the two factions in the State Duma; and participation of the SPS leaders Boris Nemtsov and Irina Khakamada in the Public Council of the Yabloko association.

According to Yavlinsky, this programme is aimed at building on the coalition of democratic forces which has already been achieved and will develop further. The leader of Yabloko also recalled the successful initiative on proposing a single candidate from the democratic forces at the gubernatorial elections in St.Petersburg.

Grigory Yavlinsky noted that this experience of joint work should be developed further and the possibilities of pooling efforts in other regions during elections of governors, mayors and deputies of legislative assemblies should be sought. If this experiment proves successful, finally we could consider co-ordination of lists [Ed. party lists of candidates for elections) and their eventual unification, said Grigory Yavlinsky.

Yavlinsky also stressed to journalists that the issue of unifying the democratic forces would be debated at the meeting of the Central Council of the Yabloko Association and at the Congress of the Yabloko Association, and that it would be discussed by the regional branches of Yabloko, its supporters and electorate.

See also:

Sergei Ivanenko: The union between the SPS and Yabloko was a correct step: the strategy targeted at uniting all democratic forces will be continued

Yabloko calls on democrats to unite

Yabloko and SPS begin working together