Opinions & Interviews

Aleinik shares key takeaways of CIS Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Bishkek

BISHKEK, 12 October (BelTA) – The participants of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council meeting in Bishkek reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the potential of the Commonwealth and promote integration in the CIS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleinik told reporters following the event, BelTA reports.

“We paid a lot of attention to security issues and economic cooperation. An agreement on free trade in services has recently been signed, a number of Belarus’ proposals have made it into the comprehensive plan to counter economic challenges. In September, the CIS Economic Council took additional decisions aimed to strengthen economic cooperation between the CIS countries. Of course, these issues feature large in our agenda, because economic stability and self-sufficiency of the Commonwealth are the key to sustainable prosperity and development of our states,” said the foreign minister.

Mutual trade was also discussed at the meeting. Sergei Aleinik cited statistics that showed that the trade between Belarus and the CIS countries reached $33 billion in January-August 2023. “It rose by 12.5% or $3.7 billion in monetary terms year-on-year,” the minister noted. “These figures speak volumes. All Commonwealth countries confirm their commitment to deepen economic interaction, cooperation in manufacturing, and to ensure technological sovereignty. This is an essential factor underlying growth in trade and improvement of all other economic cooperation dimensions, including transport and logistics, as well as the payment system that is steadily moving towards a transition to national currencies. The volume of settlements in national currencies is already about 80%. I think this trend will remain in place,” the minister noted.

According to the minister, all CIS countries are on the same page regarding the need to strengthen the potential of the Commonwealth that they see as a pillar of a multipolar world. “Disagreements in diplomatic relations are not something extraordinary. There is no escaping them. But we manage to meet each other halfway and find win-win solutions on almost all issues on the agenda,” assured the foreign minister. “Today it is important to maintain solidarity, cohesion, unity and positive agenda in the Commonwealth. We are simply obliged to do this given the ongoing geopolitical developments, the illegal unilateral measures taken by Western states against a number of CIS countries, including Belarus. This topic was also raised at the meeting. And, of course, this unifying agenda will only grow stronger.”

Sergei Aleinik said that during the upcoming summit in Bishkek on 13 October, the CIS heads of state are expected to exchange views on the most pressing issues of the regional and international agenda, on strengthening the potential of the Commonwealth. “Today we have prepared four draft statements, which we expect will be approved by the heads of state. One of them concerns fair global development and the formation of a multi-polar world,” the Belarusian foreign minister said.

The participants of the meeting agreed to hold the next meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council in Minsk on 12 April 2024. “We are looking forward to hosting our counterparts, partners and will be preparing a substantive agenda for this meeting,” added Sergei Aleinik.

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