Belarus calls for CIS cooperation against modern challenges, threats

The readiness of the CIS states to stand against modern challenges and threats serves common interests. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the statement at a videoconference session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council on 10 December, BelTA has learned.

The CIS foreign ministers discussed various aspects of cooperation within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The current situation in the region was discussed. Speaking during the session, Vladimir Makei thanked the Uzbek side for professional and fruitful work as the CIS' presiding country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Vladimir Makei stressed importance of tight cooperation in the Commonwealth of Independent States in the face of attempts of external forces to destabilize the situation in a number of CIS member states, including Belarus. “I believe that the all-round fortification of our countries, the readiness to stand against modern challenges and threats serve common interests,” he noted. He informed participants of the session about the key initiatives Belarus intends to pursue in 2021 as the CIS' presiding country.

A plan on the next year's multilevel consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs of the CIS member states was passed. A resolution on assigning the basic CIS organization status to a number of higher education institutions of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Tajikistan was passed.

Apart from that, a draft concept of further development of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the draft main action plan on implementing it, a draft concept of military cooperation of the CIS member states in the period till 2025, a draft program on cooperation of the CIS member states in reinforcing border security at external borders in 2021-2025, and a number of other joint documents were approved and forwarded for consideration of the CIS Heads of State Council.

The next session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council will be held in the Russian Federation on 2 April 2021.