CIS diplomats review implementation of Vienna Convention

Minsk played host to a regular meeting of the consultative council of heads of consular services at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the CIS member states on 7 June, BelTA learned from the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The videoconference meeting was attended by representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the CIS Executive Committee. Representatives of Turkmenistan took part in the meeting of the council as observers for the first time.

Participants of the conference exchanged opinions concerning the fulfillment of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963, the realization of the Convention on Legal Aid and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases of 22 January 1993 and other conventions, including bilateral consular conventions singed by the CIS member states.

The participants of the meeting recognized the need to exchange relevant information between the authorized bodies of the CIS member states on issues within their competence, and to ensure mutual recognition of documents issued by them within the framework of the relevant provisions of the conventions. They recommended intensifying direct cooperation and interdepartmental cooperation between the parties to the conventions using modern channels of communication, including within the framework of the justice authorities of the CIS member states. The parties agreed to continue updating the list of competent authorities authorized to communicate within the framework of the implementation of these conventions.

The participants of the meeting also looked into the protection of the rights and interests of citizens, support and assistance to people temporarily staying, studying and working in the CIS member states.

The next meeting of the consultative council of heads of consular services at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the CIS member states will be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2023.