Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is on a working visit to Tajikistan, will attend a meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council. Many are calling this summit special, and there are many reasons for this. The CIS heads of state will discuss a broad range of issues in Dushanbe, including, for example, the creation of the new CIS Plus format and granting the SCO observer status within the CIS. Here’s the breakdown of the agenda for the CIS summit in Tajikistan.
Two dozen items on the agenda
Ahead of the organization’s 35th anniversary next year, a number of initiatives to strengthen its global standing are planned, including the establishment of the CIS Plus format and granting observer status to the SCO within the Commonwealth.
The heads of state are expected to discuss energy security, cooperation in the defense sector, cross-border security and joint efforts to combat transnational crime.
One of the most significant items on the agenda for Belarus is the statement by the CIS heads of state on the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Coordinated actions by CIS countries will be discussed when considering this topic at the UN General Assembly session.
Before the Belarusian leader’s arrival in Dushanbe, journalists had the opportunity to speak with Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maksim Ryzhenkov. The foreign minister reflected on specific features and significance of the upcoming CIS summit in Dushanbe: “The summit’s importance extends beyond its role as a negotiation platform for like-minded people, the leaders of CIS nations. These are leaders who, under similar circumstances, are forging their countries’ independence and, as a result, are fostering wide-ranging cooperation within this international organization.”
He remarked that the Commonwealth, founded nearly 35 years ago, has matured into a serious international organization but continues to evolve. This development is evidenced by the summit’s agenda, which will include discussions on expanding opportunities for new members and defining the status of other states within the CIS framework.
CIS Plus format as platform for international cooperation
As we have already mentioned, one of the issues to be raised at the summit is the creation of the CIS Plus format. Similar formats already exist in other international organizations, such as SCO Plus and BRICS Plus, so its consideration within the Commonwealth was only a matter of time.
CIS Plus is expected to allow countries to join the organization both as partners and as observers. However, they do not need to be formal members of the Commonwealth. Thus, CIS Plus would be open to SCO members and the organization as a whole.
Regarding the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the heads of state plan to consider granting the SCO observer status within the CIS at the summit.
Aleksandr Lukashenko had already spoken about this. On 30 September, the Belarusian leader met with the heads of government delegations participating in the Minsk meetings of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the CIS Heads of Government Council. Among the issues the Belarusian president outlined was the initiative to create a CIS Plus format. The head of state’s opinion on it is quite clear – such a format is necessary.
“Belarus welcomes the initiative by our Kazakh colleagues to create CIS Plus as a new platform for multilateral cooperation between the CIS member states and international partners,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the time.
The foreign minister believes that this initiative reflects a growing need to build more comprehensive and closer relations, particularly in a regional context. “The popularity of this format remains to be seen. We anticipate that it will be of primary interest to the Commonwealth’s border nations, which have a direct incentive to monitor regional dynamics and pursue enhanced cross-border ties with our association,” he said.
Maksim Ryzhenkov believes that the CIS Plus format may also draw interest from like-minded countries outside the association, which would significantly expand its potential geography.
Convergence of integrations and the role of the CIS in creating a fair world order
At the meeting with the heads of government delegations participating in the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the CIS Heads of Government Council, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the global majority strives for cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, without dictates and threats, illegal restrictions, and coercion. This was confirmed by the recent SCO summit in China.
“Belarus views the CIS and the EAEU as important players in building a fair multipolar world order,” the head of state said. “In essence, the EAEU and the CIS have given rise to a multi-level mechanism of regional cooperation designed to achieve the convergence of integration processes,” he said.
According to the Belarusian leader, the CIS should establish itself as a credible, influential organization that actively fosters equitable relations in political and humanitarian affairs. It’s possible that the discussion will focus on strengthening the organization’s role on the international stage. Moreover, the president of Belarus regularly speaks about this at such forums.
The Belarusian foreign minister also drew attention to the strengthening of the authority and weight of the Commonwealth of Independent States. “There has been a lot of talk about the CIS being created to ensure a smooth exit from the Soviet Union. In reality, we see that as time passes, even the countries that announced the suspension of their work in the CIS are fulfilling a whole range of agreements that grant them special conditions in trade and customs sectors. This is why the situation is not so black and white,” he stressed.
The minister also drew attention to the fact that other organizations, such as the UN and the SCO, take the CIS seriously. “This indicates that we are moving in the right direction. The organization’s prestige is growing,” Maksim Ryzhenkov remarked.
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