Lebedev: Preparations for CIS summit in Astana on home stretch

Preparations for the CIS summit in Astana are on home stretch, Chairman of the Executive Committee - Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev told reporters, BelTA has learned.

"The readiness is very high. Thorough preparation is a guarantee that the event will be a success. So is a responsible approach of representatives of the CIS states and the CIS Executive Committee. A group of the CIS Executive Committee has just visited there, we worked together with Kazakhstan partners," Sergei Lebedev said. "We hope the summit will be a success."

“Today cooperation between the CIS countries seems to be more relevant than ever,” Sergei Lebedev noted. "In connection with the pressure felt by most of the CIS countries from the so-called collective West, in view of the sanctions that have been imposed primarily against Russia and Belarus, other CIS states are also suffering from them. Therefore, it is very important to get together, talk, discuss pressing problems and, most importantly, find the best ways to solve these problems in the interests of each of the CIS states."

As expected, the presidents of the CIS member states will meet in person in Astana on 14 October.

Another meeting of the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives was held at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk on 30 September. The permanent representatives discussed the activities of the CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation and the CIS Council of Heads of State News Agencies.

The permanent representatives reviewed the status of the provisions of the Agreement on a Free Trade Zone. The document was signed on 18 October 2011. Its main goal is to create conditions for the stable development of the economy for the sake of raising living standards and developing mutual trade without obstacles.