The decision of the Rules Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to invite the Russian delegation to the summer session facilitates resumption of constructive dialogue and serves as recognition that sanctions against Russia were misguided, Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said.
"We welcome the decision made by the PACE Rules Committee to invite the Russian delegation to the summer session. This represents another step toward resuming constructive dialogue," Tolstoy said, noting that now it's up to the Assembly to support the proposed recommendations and overcome the destructive influence of the Russophobic minority.
In fact, the decision to invite the Russian delegation "basically represents recognition that the sanctions policies against Russia in PACE were misguided," he noted.
"We are observing changing attitudes among Europeans. Many of them have grown tired of hypocrisy and lies and started to understand that our country never was and never will be Europe's enemy. Without Russia's participation, it is impossible to imagine Europe's future," TASS cited the speaker as saying.
