Pivnenko Speech (ENG)

Helsinki, 30 August 2011Ms Valentina Pivnenko,Head of the Delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation at BSPC.Speech at the take over of the BSPC Presidency.Dear colleagues,Ladies and Gentlemen,I would like to express my gratitude to the Conference for support given to the presidency of the Federal Assemble of the Russian Federation in the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference for the term of 2011-2012.While taking the turn from the Parliament of the Republic of Finland, which has hosted with such hospitality and at a high organisational level this 20th anniversary session of BSPC, I particularly congratulate for the positive Finnish presidency chaired by Ms Christina Gestrin and for the sincere commitment of the Baltic Sea parliamentarians to promote quality of life for the people of the Baltic Sea Region.BSPC has during these twenty years proven to be one of the most effective fora in the Baltic Region. BSPC has a real potential of cooperation. The Conference has become a permanent basis for developing contacts and new initiatives fostering interaction among and between the parliaments. The Conference should also further on be aimed at securing its role of the leading parliamentary player in the Region.The BSPC agenda should in the nearest future consist of concrete issues related to the perspectives of the Region, seeking new ways to deepen our cooperation. Sustainable use of resources that poses no threat to the environment, development and introduction to this end of new techniques and technologies, development of transport infrastructure, monitoring of the industrial risks, broader implementation of public-private partnerships to meet the emerging challenges – these are some of the topics that seem to be of highest priority.The Energy dialogue with a particular stress on the need for energy efficient and safe nuclear technologies is of importance. It is impossible to speak about global energy balance without modernising and innovative development of the nuclear energy. It is obvious that nuclear energy will continue do be used further. Our challenge is to make it safe for the human life and the environment. It is quite possible to achieve in present conditions. Modern nuclear plants are being equipped with the safety protection that excludes any developments which occurred in Japan. We will fully guarantee impeccable nuclear safety of the Baltiyskaya Nuclear Plant project. It will be possible to discuss improvement of international legal and regulatory framework of peaceful and safe nuclear energy at the Standing Committee of BSPC. The conference on nuclear energy held together with the Nordic Council last April at the Kola NPP manifested a possibility of open and sincere dialogue on the basis of transparency and information accessibility as well as through rapprochement of different views of the argument. Every attention should be given to discussion on nuclear safety, promotion of Green technologies which corresponds to national and global interests.We will continue to render attention to such topics as combat of organised crime, support for broader people-to-people contacts through easier visa requirements, sustainable growth that promotes wellbeing and safety for the people of the Baltic Sea Region.The priorities of the Russian Chairmanship in BSPC will reflect our commitment to cooperation in the field of innovations and modernisation. Cooperation along this track could become continuity for the current and next BSPC chairmanships. This will open “the Russian season” of the Baltic Sea cooperation as in 2012-2013 Russia will be chairing the intergovernmental cooperation in CBSS.The positions of the Baltic Sea parliamentarians on many challenges of the Region are close or coincide. We are committed to further strengthen cooperation on key issues for the benefit of our nations and our peoples.The Russian Parliament is going to build up its chairmanship in BSPC in a harmonised manner by promoting the projects that will help the Baltic Region become more efficient from the point of sustainable development and make the Baltic Region competitive in the modern world.Till we meet in Russia! In Saint-Petersburg!