Opinions & Interviews
Belarus foreign minister praises 2017 as successful year for CIS
MINSK, 12 December (BelTA) – 2017 was an eventful and successful year for the CIS, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at the CIS Plenipotentiaries Council meeting on 12 December, BelTA has learned.
“Today, summing up the results, every one of us can point out considerable advancement of the national interests in the joint efforts to increase the importance of the CIS. We have fulfilled the tasks set for this year. In our opinion, the year was productive and eventful for the CIS. A lot of events were held in Belarus and other CIS member states. We believe these events were very successful,” said Vladimir Makei.
According to the minister, almost all the necessary decisions were taken to adapt the CIS to the present-day realities, including the redistribution of powers between the CIS bodies, the optimization of the activity of the Economic Court and the Interstate Statistics Committee, the allocation of quota positions in the CIS Executive Committee, and the systemic inventory of the CIS legal framework.
According to the diplomat, the CIS Foreign Ministers Council held two meetings and considered a wide range of issues. All the decisions submitted to the heads of state by the ministers were approved. “Not everything goes smooth at the meetings of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council. We believe this is normal as there are different viewpoints. But we always come to the mutual understanding of how to move further,” Vladimir Makei stressed.
"During the Russian presidency the work was continued to promote the coordinated positions of the CIS member states in foreign policy. The declarations of the heads of state to support the institution of family and traditional family values and the statement of the heads of government on consolidating the efforts of the world community for effective counteraction to international cartels were adopted and submitted to the UN and other international organizations,” the minister said.
Two statements were made by the CIS ministers of foreign affairs: on the inadmissibility of discrimination and intolerance in respect to Christians, Muslims and representatives of other denominations and on inadmissibility and the elimination of the devastation of monuments and other objects erected to memorize the courage and heroism of those killed in the fight against the Nazis during World War Two.
The CIS Foreign Ministers Council also approved the promising plan of cooperation for 2018-2020 in different areas, including the support of national sports, international youth cooperation and tourism development.
Belarus calls for intensifying CIS activity against corruption
Belarus’ foreign minister emphasizes common understanding of CIS future
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