CIS participating states found forms of cooperation acceptable for all - Kazakh President
The meeting was held in the narrow and enlarged format. As N.Nazarbayev noted in his speech, the current year is special one for the CIS. Our states mark 20th anniversary of founding of the Commonwealth. In 1991 the Almaty Declaration - a historic document - was signed. The Declaration gave a chance to construct a new community of independent states by joint efforts.
"The Commonwealth implemented a very important task - there were established new relations based on the principles of the international law and sovereign equality. At the same time we maintained and strengthened traditional relations of friendship between our countries. The CIS participating states were able to find forms of cooperation acceptable for all and effective in new geopolitical realities. There was a time, when everyone criticized our organization. There were many opinions, that the Commonwealth exhausted itself, it begged the question on its disbanding, despite this, five years ago we set the course for the Commonwealth reforming, improvement of its bodies' activity," Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The President emphasized that the CIS activity has its downsides, difficult issues, but there are some improvements in a joint work. Specific documents were adopted; the Concept of CIS further development was approved and is under implementation. The Strategy of economic development of the CIS till 2020 is under realization. Thanks to the measures taken timely we were able to minimize consequences of the world economic crisis and stabilize national economies. The draft Agreement on Free Trade Zone is under completion.
"I am confident that only exchange of opinions and search for joint solutions on urgent matters of the CIS are the most effective way for achievement of common goals. Interaction of our countries in strengthening stability and security, boosting efforts on joint combating modern challenges and threats has special significance in the current conditions," the President outlined.
Following results of the meeting decisions on further strengthening of interaction within the framework of the CIS were adopted and a number of joint documents were signed.