Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
06/21/2007
Pelosi Remarks To Members of Russian Duma Today
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered opening
remarks at the Foreign Affairs Committee meeting this morning with members of
the Russian Duma. Below are her remarks:
“As Speaker of the House, let me welcome Chairman Konstantin
Kosachev and members of the Russian Duma’s Committee on Foreign Affairs to the
United States Capitol. It is an honor to
join you today.
“I know that this inter-parliamentary exchange will be
beneficial to both of our great nations, particularly because Chairman Tom
Lantos is helping coordinate this ongoing dialogue. Chairman Lantos is a world-recognized expert
on human rights, and a fierce advocate for politically imprisoned people
everywhere. For these reasons, he is an
influential voice in the House. Thank you,
Chairman Lantos.
“I also want to thank the Committee’s Ranking Member Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen for partnering with Chairman Lantos in this effort.
“We have joined together today because we understand that
cooperation and consultation are essential in a world that grows more and more
interconnected and interdependent everyday.
Just as information travels around the globe faster than ever before,
crises that were once seen as regional can now spill into wider conflicts. And challenges that were once managed locally
or within national borders now require international attention and action.
“You can see this in a wide range of issues, some of which
you will be addressing today.
“In matters of economics and trade, the prosperity of the
American and Russian peoples rests on our ability to develop trade and monetary
policies that foster innovation and creativity while protecting the rights and
privacy of workers.
“On the issues of war and humanitarian aid, the safety of
our people and the stability of troubled regions rest on our ability to work
cooperatively to resolve old conflicts, prevent new ones, and bring peace and
hope to people who live in oppression or under the threat of violence.
“Whether it’s stopping the spread of weapons of mass
destruction, which is our first responsibility and the biggest threat to the
security of the world, or reversing global warming, stopping the spread of
disease internationally, or the alleviation of poverty – all of those issues
are better served by better cooperation and better communication between
“That’s why I’m so pleased to see my colleague Congressman
Dennis Kucinich of
“It is with great pride in my own Congress, great
expectations in what can be achieved by two great leaders that I see here, your
Chairman, Mr. Kosachev, and our Chairman, Mr. Lantos, and both our
delegations. It is with that hope that I
wish you much success in your visit. I
know that some time soon there will be a corresponding visit to the Duma in
“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.”