New agreements on CIS economic cooperation to be signed in May

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) - New agreements on strengthening the economic cooperation in the CIS are expected to be signed during the meeting of the CIS Heads of Government in Minsk on 31 May, Chairman of the Executive Committee, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said at the meeting of the CIS Council of Plenipotentiary Representatives in the Charter and Other Bodies of the Commonwealth on 22 January.

According to Sergei Lebedev, the meeting of the CIS Heads of Government will focus on economic cooperation, and new agreements to enhance economic interaction.

Sergei Lebedev noted that in 2013 the CIS most significant events will be held in Belarus, the country which presides in the Commonwealth. Mogilev, as one of the cultural capitals 2013, will bring together representatives of culture and education of the CIS countries. "These meetings should result in further strengthening of relations between peoples," said the CIS Executive Secretary. But the highlight of all political, economic, social and cultural activities in the Commonwealth in 2013 will be a meeting of the CIS Heads of State slated for October.

Since Belarus holds the CIS chairmanship in 2013, the CIS Council of Plenipotentiary Representatives will be headed by Vasily Pugachev, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the CIS charter and other bodies. At the meeting, Mr Vasily Pugachev will present the concept of Belarus’ CIS Chairmanship and an action plan to it. The CIS plenipotentiary representatives will discuss assistance to Belarus in implementation of activities during its chairmanship in the CIS.

The theme of Belarus’ CIS Chairmanship is “Integration for the good of man: strengthening of good-neighborly relations, development of environmental cooperation, promoting accessibility of ecological “green” technologies, expanding the dialogue of cultures”. Belarus will be working towards improving the image of the CIS on the international arena and within the Commonwealth, strengthening the interaction between government agencies of the CIS Member States with other states and integration entities.

Measures aimed at deepening mutually beneficial trade-economic and innovation cooperation, cross-sectoral and industrial interaction are intended to give additional impetus to the growth of national economies and the potential of the CIS as a whole.

Belarus will also focus on development of information space, strengthening of intercultural and inter-ethnic interaction, contacts between scientific and creative intellectuals, veterans' and youth organizations, in sport and tourism.

The council members will approve the work plan for 2013 and will consider the draft agenda of the next meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Tashkent on 5 April. In addition, the plenipotentiary representatives will consider the candidature to the post of head of the CIS observation mission to the president’s elections in Armenia scheduled for 18 February.