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LEFT, RIGHT WINGS OF OPPOSITION WANT TO UNITE

MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti) - The left and right wings of the opposition can unite to hold an all-Russia referendum on key socio-economic issues - the transition to a professional army, the restoration of gubernatorial elections and direct elections of the Federation Council members, Boris Nadezhdin, member of the political council of the Union of Right Forces (SPS) said at a Wednesday discussion held as part of the All-Russia Civil Congress.

"A referendum can be held in Russia if all political parties and forces of civil society act together," Nadezhdin stressed.

On his part, secretary of the KPRF Central Committee Vadim Solovyov backed the right-wing leader.

"The Communist and democratic parties share common interests in the protection of democracy, human rights and liberties," Solovyov said. He cited Winston Churchill's famous quotation "We have no lasting friends, no lasting enemies, only lasting interests."

According to Vadim Solovyov, "it is impossible to hold the referendum without the political will of the Russian authorities."

"Our chances to hold the referendum are one to thousand but we should struggle for this," he concluded.

Yabloko deputy chairman Sergei Mitrokhin believes that at the moment no referendums can be held in Russia on the initiative of the opposition.

Leader of the Our Choice party Irina Khakamada called on the oppositionists to practice joint work before advancing the expensive referendum initiative.

Khakamada proposed holding nationwide simultaneous rallies involving left and right-wing oppositions.

In her opinion joint actions "can show that the opposition has common values."