More ambitious goals need to be set for the CIS, and a breakthrough must be achieved. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today at a meeting in Minsk with Chairman of the Executive Committee - Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergey Lebedev, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
More ambitious goals need to be set for the CIS, and a breakthrough must be achieved. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today at a meeting in Minsk with Chairman of the Executive Committee - Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergey Lebedev, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
"We need to somehow think, based on experience, about what the CIS will ultimately be engaged in, set more ambitious goals for ourselves and, if I may say so, achieve a certain breakthrough in this organisation," the head of state stated.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that currently the CIS mainly serves as a kind of discussion platform where serious and important issues are discussed, among others. "But we need to fill our organisation with some specifics, as it seems to me. Essentially, an umbrella organisation over the EAEU, the CSTO, and so on. To have an open discussion with the heads of state, whether they are ready to move towards other, closer associations. For example, in the economy – the EAEU, in the military-political sphere – the CSTO. Something along these lines. If you were to work through this issue and could make a proposal, I would be a good lobbyist for you, for our Executive Committee, to suggest to the heads of state to discuss within the framework of this summit with the aim of giving greater dynamism and greater authority and weight to our organisation," said the President of Belarus.
"The reason I am talking about this is that the events of recent days, weeks, and months clearly indicate that we need to be closer. I do not want some people here to misunderstand that I am trying to draw the CIS countries closer to Belarus's problems, which are also related to recent incidents and so on. No, that is not the point. We need to think more seriously about the future. And these incidents – they have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen. Nobody guarantees us a peaceful life. But being closer, while we are still speaking the same language, the current generation of politicians, we need to work, and very seriously," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
It was noted that the CIS summit in Minsk at the heads of state level is planned to be held on October 15 of the current year. Alexander Lukashenko mentioned that the possibility of an in-person meeting in Minsk was recently discussed at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which was held in a video conference format.
"We planned to hold a meeting of the EAEU on the eve – the presidents would meet, discuss certain issues that exist, that need to be discussed. And the next day, as planned, we would meet within the CIS framework," said Alexander Lukashenko. "I am ready to seriously welcome the heads of state here in person with you and present serious topics for discussion."
Source: belta.by