[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
VISIT TO THE SENATE BY A DELEGATION FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION COUNCIL

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President and Members of the Senate, the Senate 
is privileged today to welcome a delegation from the Federation 
Council, the upper chamber of Russia's Parliament. This delegation is 
led by its chairman, Vladimir Shumeyko. I have just held a constructive 
discussion with Mr. Shumeyko and his colleagues covering issues of 
mutual concern between the United States and Russia.
  I invited Mr. Shumeyko and his colleagues here because of my strong 
conviction that democracy is well served by cooperation and dialog 
between the lawmakers of different countries. That is especially true 
in the case of the United States and Russia, whose relations until 
recently were characterized by competition and confrontation rather 
than cooperation.
  Mr. Shumeyko has a key role in shaping the future of Russia's Federal 
Assembly. During this visit, he and his colleagues are exploring 
processes and procedures of the U.S. Congress which might assist in 
their development. I expect that the insights they will bring also will 
help us see our own procedures and deliberations in a new light.
  It is an honor for this body, the U.S. Senate, to welcome Chairman 
Shumeyko and his colleagues, and I thank them for their cooperation.


                                 Recess

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President, I now ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate be in recess for a period of 5 minutes within which I ask all 
Senators present or who may be coming into the Senate to greet our 
colleagues from the Russian Federation Council.
  There being no objection, the Senate at 2:09 p.m., recessed until 
2:13 p.m.; whereupon, the Senate reassembled when called to order by 
the Presiding Officer (Ms. Moseley-Braun).

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