MINSK, 4 February (BelTA) – The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) calls to search for ways to align economic cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), intensify interaction, and prevent or timely eliminate conflicts in the contractual and legal framework of the two organizations. The matter was discussed at the ministerial consultations “On Interaction in the CIS in 2021”, held in the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk on 4 February, BelTA learned from the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.
“Taking part in the consultations were representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs confirmed their readiness for further strengthening and development of integration building and noted the need to align the legal framework of the CIS and the EAEU as one of the main areas of cooperation,” the press service said.
The participants of the consultations also discussed the prospects for expanding cooperation of the CIS countries in the areas of security and countering new challenges and threats, and also foreign policy, humanitarian and economic cooperation.
It was noted at the meeting that cooperation within the CIS in 2020 faced difficult conditions amid the pandemic, global political and economic turmoil, sanctions and pressure from external forces. The partners pointed out the obvious viability of the CIS as an effective mechanism for multilateral cooperation and its willingness to adapt to the new realities. The parties noted the effectiveness of Uzbekistan's chairmanship in the CIS in 2020 and expressed confidence that Belarus will successfully exercise its chairmanship in 2021.
The meeting also discussed the results of the implementation of the plan of multilevel ministerial consultations in the CIS countries in 2020 and the implementation of the program of actions to enhance the partnership between the CIS ministries of foreign affairs.
