SG: We had the opportunity to discuss Russian-UN cooperation, and I took the opportunity of my visit here to thank the Speaker for the strong support and the constructive and active role the Russian Federation plays in all areas of the UN's work.

We also discussed the relationship between the UN and parliamentarians, and their organization, the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the important role of parliamentarians in this globalized world.

At the national level, they are the link between the local and the national, ensuring that the voices of all citizens, weak and powerful, are heard. But in our globalized world, parliamentarians have also become the bridge between the local, the national and the global.

And that is important, because in today's world, what happens globally has an impact on the local and what happens locally has an impact on the global.

So the role of the parliamentarian is not only important, but has also become rather complex.

We also had the chance to discuss the problem of the Middle East, between the Palestinians and the Israelis and talked about Iraq and generally the need to find peaceful, political and constructive solutions to crises around the world. Thank you. *****