TORONTO, September 10, 2002 -- York University’s Centre for International and Security Studies (YCISS) will host the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of Parliament, Vladimir Lukin, on Wednesday, September 11, to discuss issues in Russia, both domestic and foreign, since the attack one year ago on the World Trade Centre in New York.

A distinguished historian, Lukin was Russia’s ambassador to Washington in 1992-93. He was elected to the Duma in 1995 and headed the parliamentary committee for international affairs. Following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement calling for reinforcement of the role of the United Nations and the UN Security Council in strengthening international security to fight terrorism. Russia has recently expressed reservations about U.S. President George W. Bush's campaign for international support to invade Iraq.

Lukin will deliver a lecture on current issues in Russia post 9/11 on Wednesday, September 11, at 11 a.m. in room 390 York Lanes, York University, Keele campus, 4700 Keele Street.

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For further information, please contact:

Prof. Sergei Plekhanov	Susan Bigelow
YCISS	Media Relations
York University	York University
416-736-2100, ext. 46013	416-736-2100, ext. 22091
splekhan@yorku.ca	sbigelow@yorku.ca

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