The concept of Belarus’ Chairmanship in the CIS in 2013 includes about 70 international events, Ruslan Yesin, Deputy Chief of the CIS and EurAsEC Department at the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, said at the meeting of the CIS council for interregional and cross-border cooperation. Belarus presented the concept of its chairmanship in the CIS in 2013 at the meeting. The motto is "integration for the benefit of people,” Ruslan Yesin said. Among the main objectives is the expansion of regional cooperation. It is regional links that are most important today for the development of the economy and relations in all areas and that directly reflect on the life of residents of a region, he said.
A range of activities will be held including by the Emergencies Ministries, border committees, and also environmental and youth forums to step up regional interaction. The activities will focus on strengthening good neighborliness, the dialogue of cultures. "We want to use interregional cooperation to enhance and strengthen contacts in economy, to demonstrate our innovation capacity," said Ruslan Yesin.