ASHGABAT, 10 October (BelTA) – The action plan to invigorate partnership between the ministries of foreign affairs of the CIS countries was approved at a meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministries Council on 10 October, BelTA has learned.
The program provides for a wide range of measures to strengthen ministerial cooperation between the CIS countries within the CIS, UN, OSCE and other international organizations. The document defines mechanisms and areas of interaction between the ministries of foreign affairs to expand and deepen partnership in the economic and humanitarian sectors, address key global and regional security issues and counter new challenges and threats.
The adoption of the document will contribute to stronger cooperation among the CIS member states in peace building, global and regional stability and security, and promotion of fair collective approaches to settle crisis situations. “In fact, this is the main document adopted at the meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council today. The document will help coordinate our foreign policy activities in the international arena,” Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said.
In his words, the CIS Foreign Ministers Council meeting was held in an open and friendly atmosphere and produced great results. The council considered more than ten issues. Among them was the draft address of the CIS heads of state to the peoples of the CIS countries and the international community in connection with the 75th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.
The agenda also included issues related to cooperation in the military and law enforcement sectors, the fight against terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism, and also an information security strategy.
At Russia's proposal, two additional issues were on the agenda. These were a draft joint statement in support of practical steps to prevent an arms race in outer space and a draft agreement on the establishment and operation of the CIS Network University. The ministers also approved the decision on the CIS Games. This document will be submitted to the CIS heads of government for approval.
The above decision provides for the institution of the CIS Games as the main sport event in the CIS. The adoption of the document will contribute to the expansion and strengthening of traditionally friendly relations between the peoples of the CIS countries, enhancement of athletes' sportsmanship and experience of participation in international competitions. The move will also help preserve national sports, popularize and develop them at the international level, expand and strengthen sport relations between the CIS member states.
Ashgabat is set to host the CIS Heads of State Council session on 11 October. According to the CIS Executive Committee, the leaders of the countries are expected to consider eight draft documents aimed to further develop economic cooperation and ministerial partnership, ensure security and counter new challenges and threats. Among the issues on the agenda is the CIS chairmanship in 2020. The CIS leaders are expected to address the peoples of the CIS countries and the international community in connection with the 75th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
The CIS Heads of State Council will also consider the draft declaration on strategic economic cooperation. The agenda also includes such documents as the convention on the transfer of the enforcement of a sentence not involving deprivation of liberty, the agreement on the joint engineering unit for humanitarian demining of the armed forces of the CIS countries, the agreement on cooperation in combating corruption, the program of cooperation in combating terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism for 2020-2022.
Photos by Maksim Guchek
