Today.Az » Politics » Sergey Lebedev: "There are several coalitions in the CIS area, including GUAM. I am sure that if they function for strengthening cooperation, this can only be welcomed"
17 June 2008 [10:40] - Today.Az
Day.Az interview with executive secretary of CIS executive committee Sergey Lebedev.
- How do you assess the results of an informal CIS summit held in Saint Petersburg?
- Undoubtedly, the recent CIS informal summit was successful. It was attended by all 12 heads of CIS states. During the session all the Presidents of the CIS states shared views on urgent topics and voiced a number of proposals on development of cooperation in the CIS sidelines. The heads of states approved the development of the CIS Economic Development Strategy for period until 2020.
It is suggested to introduce this document for consideration at the next session of the presidents' council to be held in Bishkek on October 10 of this year. The informal summit in Saint Petersburg also discussed problem of food security, development of transport system and strengthening of humanitarian cooperation. I am sure that the recent meetings of the CIS leaders will encourage development of both the CIS and bilateral ties.
- Experts often state that the CIS is too weak. The main problem of the independent states is that the adopted decisions are not executed. What is that related to?
- Such a problem does exist. All the CIS members are sovereign states. Each of them has a right to join the agreements on any issues, voice special opinion, considering their national interests. This is a real practice. These is also a difference between the rates of conducted reforms, which certainly, influences the integration processes.
Nevertheless, the intention of the states to expand cooperation is dominating, which is most important. At the Dushanbe summit (October of 2007) leaders of the CIS states set a task to raise effectiveness of interaction in the CIS framework. The concept of further development of the CIS and a plan of its implementation adopted there is intended for the fulfillment of this task. We are now actively working at their implementation.
- Do you think the statement of a number of Russian politicians that GUAM has been created as a counter to the CIS is groundless?
- There are several coalitions in the CIS area, including GUAM. I am sure that if they function for strengthening cooperation, this can only be welcomed. The meetings of the CIS presidents, including informal summits in Moscow (February) and Saint-Petersburg (June) show that the Presidents of the CIS states, including those joining GUAM, are for boosting cooperation in all directions, including economy, boosting security and facing new challenges and threats, development of humanitarian cooperation.
I do not think it groundless to speak about any counter. It is evident today that the Commonwealth of Independent States is becoming a dynamically developing power.
/Day.Az/
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