Events

MINSK, 21 June (BelTA) - Belarus suggests adding digital agenda to the CIS development concept, Elena Kopaneva, Deputy Head of the Eurasian Integration Department of the Main Directorate for Russia, the CIS and Eurasian Integration at the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the media on 21 June, BelTA has learned.

Minsk is playing host to a meeting of a group of experts to consider suggestions for updating the CIS development concept.

Experts are considering proposals received from Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and also the CIS Executive Committee. Belarusian proposals were presented by Elena Kopaneva. “They include digital agenda and the strengthening of sci-tech and innovative cooperation,” she said. Belarus also believes it is possible to expand cooperation in the area of transport communications.

According to Belarus, the concept is a basic document which defines the main areas of cooperation. According to Elena Kopaneva, the changes are aimed at improvements. “The document preserves its basis and the main areas outlined earlier,” she noted. At the same time, economic conditions are changing and new formats of cooperation are gradually developing.

The proposals suggested by Kyrgyzstan and the CIS Executive Committee are related to the adaptation of the CIS to modern realities. “New directions, which are to be developed for the concept, may later be reflected in other documents,” Elena Kopaneva said. She cited an example of a new economic cooperation strategy after 2020 which is currently under development.

The CIS development concept was adopted in October 2007. It marked a qualitatively new stage in the activity of the CIS. This program document is designed to achieve the main goal, which is to increase practical results from integration cooperation.

The concept envisages the evolutionary improvement of the CIS, the preservation of the CIS multipronged nature, harmonious development of all available and new areas of interaction. The major goal of the CIS is to develop a long-term integrated economic and political association of all stakeholders aimed at ensuring the effective evolvement of each participant.