Lebedev: No sovietization of the post-Soviet space

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – There can be no sovietization of the post-Soviet space, Chairman of the Executive Committee, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said in his opening remarks at the meeting of the CIS Council of Plenipotentiary Representatives in the Charter and Other Bodies of the Commonwealth on 22 January.

According to the CIS Charter, the observation of the international law, non-interference with the domestic affairs, mutual respect make up the supremacy of the relations between the CIS member states. “The CIS Charter and the practice of building up relations between the CIS member states prove that there can be no sovietization on the post-Soviet territory. We stay committed to the rules of consensus in the implementation of our agreements,” Sergei Lebedev stressed. The CIS Executive Secretary noted that this principle is fundamental: “It shows that the CIS continues existing, developing and improving.”

Sergei Lebedev noted that the CIS Charter was signed in Minsk on 22 January 1993.

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. 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 will help strengthen the dialogue of cultures in the CIS. 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.