/ / News
04.01.2013

Belarus to use CIS chairmanship to strengthen ties between CIS states

MINSK, 4 January (BelTA) – During its chairmanship in the Commonwealth of Independent States Belarus is going to promote cooperation between the CIS member states, reads a statement of President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the CIS Participating states, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian head of state.

“On 1 January 2013 the Republic of Belarus assumed presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Our country views the Commonwealth as an important post-Soviet integration project aimed at maintaining economic and social stability in the region. Viability of multilateral cooperation in the Commonwealth is underpinned by an opportunity of each member state to choose an acceptable participation format in the organization,” the President said.

“The Republic of Belarus has always supported centripetal trends on the post-Soviet space; the country has always had a responsible approach to consolidation processes in the CIS and is going to use its chairmanship to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the CIS member states, improve living standards and the well-being of people, preserve and enhance positive integration trends in the CIS,” the message reads.

The Belarusian chairmanship will have the following motto “Integration in the interests of people: strengthening good-neighborly relations, promoting environmental cooperation, increasing availability of “green” technologies, expanding the dialogue of cultures”.

The Republic of Belarus will follow its chairmanship concept and the action plan to implement it.

Alexander Lukashenko expressed hope that the CIS member states will uphold Belarus’ initiatives. “I am convinced that close cooperation of all the CIS Participating states will maximize the efficiency of our plans in the interests of our peoples and enhance the image of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” the Belarusian head of state said.