Events

BISHKEK, 16 September (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is attending the 25^th summit of the CIS Heads of State Council in Bishkek, BelTA informs.

The session is held in a restricted and expanded-participation format. The agenda of the session includes 15 items. The CIS leaders are discussing the implementation of the interstate program CIS Capitals of Culture in Azerbaijan in 2017, the program of cooperation against terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism for 2017-2019, and the convention on interregional cooperation. The CIS heads of state will pay special attention to the adaption of the CIS to modern realities.

The CIS Heads of State Council summit was preceded by the meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council. Summarizing its results, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev stressed that no leader or head of government, or other official representative of the CIS member state has ever expressed doubts regarding the need for the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“All of them understand and support the need to keep and further develop the organization. Yes, there is a necessity to upgrade and adapt it to modern realities. The CIS dissolution has never been on agenda and is out of the question today,” he said. Sergei Lebedev added that he feels optimistic about the future of the organization.