Belarus likely to assume CIS chairmanship in 2013, Lebedev says

"The Republic of Belarus is likely, 100% likely, to take over the chairmanship in the CIS next year. I am sure that Belarus will fulfill this responsibility well," said Sergei Lebedev.

The issue with the chairmanship should be decided at a meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State in Ashgabat on 5 December, BelTA reports.

Sergei Lebedev also said that there are plans to declare the year 2013 as the year of the ecological culture and environment in the CIS. "You know that every year we select one, top priority topic for cooperation," he added.

As reported Minsk is playing host to a regular meeting of the CIS council of permanent representatives to review the progress in the preparations for the meetings of the CIS Ministerial Council and the CIS Council of the Heads of State. The draft agenda included 12 issues from various areas of cooperation.

The CIS Heads of State will be invited to consider 18 issues, among which is the preparation for the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the activities of the CIS IPA, the inter-state program "CIS Capital of Culture", the development of the joint air defense system. The CIS Council of the Heads of State will also discuss and draft agreements on cooperation in the field of integrated foreign exchange market, training of anti-terrorism units, and the setting up of the council of the chiefs of financial intelligence units.

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