Russian parliament speaker says Moscow ‘in favor’ of building a multipolar world order

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moscow is “in favor” of building a multipolar world order, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament said on Monday.

A statement by the Russian State Duma said that Vyacheslav Volodin hosted a meeting with a visiting Slovak parliamentary delegation led by Andrej Danko and Tibor Gaspar, deputy speakers of the country’s National Council.

The statement said that the meeting touched on issues regarding the bolstering of bilateral cooperation at the inter-parliamentary level.

"Our country is in favor of building a multipolar world order. We must do everything to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to determine their own future, and only a sovereign state can do this,” Volodin said.

He further said that Russia adheres to “the principles of mutual cooperation and the absence of double standards” while building bilateral relations.

For his part, Danko said that Slovakia wants to build its relations on the trust that it has in Russia.

Meanwhile, Gaspar said that while they are a member of the EU, they are trying to protect their national and state interests.

“And this should serve as a certain signal to other European countries and their leaders. This means that we need to negotiate, we need to listen to each other, because only as a result of this can a solution be found. And our visit is such a first symbol,” Gaspar added.

The Slovak delegation, which arrived in Moscow on Sunday, will remain in Russia until Wednesday.