MINSK, 23 December (BelTA) – A regular session of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the organization’s statutory bodies and other bodies is taking place at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk on 23 December, BelTA has learned.
“As many as 14 sessions of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives have been held this year, during which 70 items were discussed. Offsite sessions have been held as well. We examined not only fundamental theoretical approaches and the improvement of the regulatory and legal framework, but also practical aspects. One session took place at Minsk Automobile Plant where we discussed in detail matters related to improving manufacturing cooperation as well as matters concerning migration aspects, the employment of citizens of the CIS countries who come under employment contracts and work. We also talked about how all the necessary social and labor conditions have been created for them at various enterprises,” said CIS First Deputy Secretary General Igor Petrishenko.
He noted that among the items on the agenda is the implementation of the free trade zone treaty. “Given that this document has substantive character, we review it every year. I am pleased to note that over the past four years mutual trade [within the CIS space] has grown by more than 18%. The combined GDP of the CIS countries has increased by 4.5% thanks to quality implementation, including of the free trade zone treaty,” Igor Petrishenko added.
Also on the agenda are matters related to the implementation of the schedule, according to which sectoral bodies present their reports. “This is an important element of the work of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives, as all key aspects of our integration projects are carried out within the framework of sectoral councils,” said the CIS first deputy secretary general. “Attention will also be paid to the updated regulation on the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives, which was adopted by the ministers of foreign affairs in April 2025. It provides for active and efficient work together with departments of the CIS Executive Committee across all areas of our integration. Today we will hear a report on what has been achieved in implementing our program document: the concept on further development of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the action plan on implementing the concept in 2025.”
“We will also discuss the agenda for a session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council that is scheduled to take place in Kaliningrad on 17 April. Around seven items are currently on the agenda. However, it will certainly expand and we will include key aspects of our integration into it,” Igor Petrishenko noted.
According to the CIS first deputy secretary general, a lot of attention has been paid this year to commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. “Today we will also discuss the events that have been held. We are already receiving feedback and reviews. After all, preserving our shared historical memory is our primary duty. And we pay substantial attention to this,” he emphasized.
“I would like to thank the leadership of the Republic of Tajikistan for their active, powerful, and fruitful chairmanship. All the planned activities in all areas of cooperation within the framework of the CIS have been implemented. In particular, significant efforts were exercised in the area of external political positioning of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” he said.
Moreover, Igor Petrishenko thanked journalists who cover integration news across the CIS. “They convey very sincere and accurate information about how the Commonwealth develops and what benefits it brings to every country. Only together can we achieve appropriate results in the social and economic development of our countries and improve living standards,” he concluded.
There are eight items on today’s agenda. Members of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives summarized the council’s work over the past year and outlined plans for the coming year. Apart from that, the plenipotentiary representatives discussed the implementation of provisions of the free trade zone treaty, the action plan for implementing the concept for further development of the Commonwealth of Independent States, approved the schedule of reports from industry-specific CIS cooperation bodies, from the Economic Affairs Commission under the CIS Economic Council, and from the CIS Economic Council for 2026–2027. Participants of the session also reviewed proposals for the agenda of the next session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council, which is scheduled to take place in Kaliningrad on 17 April 2026, and summarized the work of the CIS mission sent to observe early elections to the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan held on 30 November.
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