Interviews

17-18, May this year in Sochi, Russia a meeting of the Working Group on Parliamentary Cooperation Committee "Russia - EU"  was held. On the agenda were discussions on "Youth Policy and the international youth cooperation in Europe." P & S met with a representative  of the delegation from the European side of the PCC, MEP Viktor Uspasskich to know his point of view.

P & S: What are the results of the meeting of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee?

 

-         I am for the first time in the Inter-Parliamentary Group "Russia-EU" in Russia .And I'm very glad you invited me to visit Russia and  to see building Olympic objects. I know that a lot of meetings going on within the framework of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (and not just on that line). Meetings are holding on different levels on different issues. But I think that such events may have even greater number of issues . I believe that we must seek to strengthen the good relations between the European Union and Russia. As correctly pointed out by our Chairman Knut Fleckenstein, Russia - this is not a third country, it is our closest neighbor, with whom relations have different relations: commercial, cultural, friendly, etc.

 Yesterday, the idea was the opportunity for young people as the European Union and Russia, born in 1989 and later, to visit our country without a visa. I - two hands "for". All that will depend on me personally, I do and everywhere to support this idea. It would be correct if both sides (Russia and the European Union) address this issue would be intense. It is a fact. And I'll be very happy.

 In his parliamentary group (I belong to the third largest group in the European Union), ALDE, fellow liberals, who are very much concerned about human rights in Russia, I say that before criticizing its neighbors and third countries, it is helpful to have a moral right to do it . What do you mean a moral right? This means that any fact related to the violations of human rights within the European Union should not be left without proper attention and evaluation. Unfortunately, such cases in the European Union is.

 

P & S: What do you think about the Olympics  2014 in Sochi?

 

 - Regarding the upcoming Olympics in 2014, preparations for which we observed in Sochi I have a positive attitude to the idea of ​​holding the Olympics in Sochi, and proud of Russia. I believe that for Russia, the Olympic Games - it's not just a sport, but also a huge breakthrough and technological progress. This is a huge step forward for the infrastructure of the region. We are not talking only about the objects themselves, but also about the  technological breakthrough and breakthrough in relations with many countries, since these objects will visit people all over the world. In addition, this project will encourage the Russians and the pride and desire in the future and to even better results. In my opinion, this project is needed in Russia.

 A question often asked,  for how many years it can pay off? I think that many times over.

 I'll be happy to support this project in Europe, including the European Parliament.