MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – The withdrawal of the United States of America from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) may be discussed during a session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council in Moscow on 5 April, BelTA learned from Andrei Grozov, Russia's permanent representative in CIS agencies.
According to the source, it is highly likely the matter will be discussed during the session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council. The ministers of foreign affairs will have to decide whether the CIS member states will take some common stance on problems relating to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
It has been reported earlier that the USA started the procedure of withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on 2 February. The process will take half a year. Russia intends to respond to the U.S. actions.
Apart from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty the CIS foreign ministers are expected to discuss matters concerning interstate relations in the area of fundamental research, preservation and proper care for military graves and military monuments of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the advancement of cooperation between the ministries of foreign affairs, interaction in humanitarian affairs, and fight against crime. Agreeing the stance of the Commonwealth of Independent States in international organizations will traditionally be one of the key topics for discussion.
