Events

MINSK, 10 October (BelTA) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is concerned over the growing disintegration trends within the CIS. “Unfortunately, we have often heard the claims that the CIS has no future as an integration association. Belarus has repeatedly expressed its point of view on the importance of the CIS for all of us,” the Belarusian leader said when opening a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of States in Minsk, BelTA has learned.

"Selective participation of the CIS states in those areas of cooperation that are of interest to them gives the CIS the flexibility and stresses its uniqueness. However, this selectivity weakens the organization, makes it less effective," said the Belarusian leader.

"The disintegration processes are, unfortunately, gaining ground in the CIS, and this is the reason of concern. Especially in view of the attempts of individual ill-wishers to bury the CIS as a useless rudiment. Belarus is not a supporter of such pessimistic approach. We have always been in favor of the development of cooperation," Lukashenko underlined. According to him, this is why Belarus has again assumed the CIS chairmanship this year.

"We continued to implement our conceptual approaches to the development of the CIS. We have done everything we could to preserve the potential we have gained for more than 20 years,” said the Belarusian head of state, expressing gratitude for the support to the CIS Executive Committee and the countries who support the integration.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded the meeting participants that the history of the integration in the post-Soviet space began with the CIS. "The CIS is the foundation that creates the conditions and determines the interest of each country to the level of integration," said the Belarusian leader. He added that the CIS track record is actively used by all other organizations established in the post-Soviet area. It has played a positive role in the further restoration and development of interstate relations on the post-Soviet territory. According to the President of Belarus, thanks in large part to the CIS the trade and economic relations have received a new impetus. However, there have been problems lately. In addition, the CIS has established a permanent political dialogue, cooperation towards the strengthening of security, and in humanitarian area.

According to the President of Belarus, the fact that this meeting is attended by nearly all heads of the CIS states eloquently confirms the vitality of the CIS. "We all need a unifying platform. There are no indifferent people here. It is high time we talked frankly about the future of the Commonwealth,” the Belarusian leader said. He added that all in attendance expect an engaged and constructive approach to today's work.