Minsk hosts EurAsEC, CIS summits

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Sessions of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of heads of state and the CIS Heads of State Council will take place in the Palace of Independence, Minsk on 24-25 October, the press service of the Belarus president told BelTA.

The development of integration and the progress on the draft treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union will be the key items on the agenda of the session on 24 October.

Apart from that, participants of the session are expected to discuss matters concerning the model law on competition, the procedure for transporting narcotic substances and psychotropic substances in the Customs Union, the execution of the Eurasian Economic Commission budget, and several other topics.

The 25 October session of the CIS Heads of State Council will be the key event within the framework of Belarus’ CIS presidency in 2013.

Belarus’ presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States follows the motto “Integration for the benefit of people: stronger neighborly ties, the development of economic cooperation, assistance for improving the accessibility of green technologies, the expansion of the dialogue of cultures”. Over 70 events of economic, ecological, humanitarian, and interregional nature are part of the plan to implement Belarus’ CIS presidency in 2013.

The agenda of the summit includes 14 items that cover various aspects of cooperation starting with humanitarian cooperation and ending with security and economic relations.

There are plans to adopt programs on cooperation in fighting terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism in 2014-2015, on cooperation in fighting the illegal turnover of narcotic substances and counteracting drug addiction in 2014-2018.

Plans have been made to discuss the interstate program for joint actions to fight crime in 2014-2018 and the program for cooperation between the CIS states in fighting slave trade in 2014-2018.

The heads of state are expected to adopt an agreement on setting up an interstate council for counteracting corruption and a program on cooperation in fighting crimes committed using information technologies.

As far as humanitarian cooperation is concerned, the sides intend to discuss preparations for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The presidents will also decide on declaring the year 2014 as the Year of Tourism in the CIS. The decision on implementing the interstate program Cultural Capitals of the Commonwealth will be made.