VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
On December 8, 1991, the leaders of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, and Ukraine signed an agreement on the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. On December 21, 1991, in Alma-Ata (now Almaty), the heads of eleven sovereign states (excluding the Baltic states and Georgia that joined the CIS in 1993) signed a Protocol to the Agreement, in which they stated that the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine established the Commonwealth of Independent States on an equal basis.
In March 1994, the CIS was granted observer status in UN General Assembly, and on April 19, 1994 in the UNCTAD. This was a landmark event in CIS development.
On August 18, 2009 Georgia quit the CIS at its own initiative.
According to the Charter, CIS goals include:
- cooperation in political, economic, environmental, humanitarian, cultural and other spheres;
- the comprehensive and balanced economic and social development of member states within the common economic space, interstate cooperation and integration;
- ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with generally recognised principles and standards of international law and OSCE documents;
- cooperation between member states to ensure international peace and security, the implementation of effective measures for the reduction of arms and military expenditures, the elimination of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction, and the achievement of universal and full disarmament;
- assisting citizens of member states in free interaction, contact and movement within the Commonwealth;
- mutual legal assistance and cooperation in other legal relations;
- peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts between member states.
Interaction within the Commonwealth of Independent States is done through the Charter Bodies of the CIS: the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council, the Council of Defence Ministers, the Council of Border Troops Commanders, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and the Economic Court.
The Council of Heads of State is the supreme body of the CIS which discusses and makes decisions on fundamental issues connected with the activity of member states within their common interests.
The Council of Heads of Government coordinates the cooperation of bodies of executive authority of member states in economic, social and other spheres. Major issues of economic, humanitarian, social, and military cooperation of member states are discussed, drafts of important documents are coordinated for subsequent submission to the Council of Heads of State.
The Council of Foreign Ministers is the main executive body that ensures cooperation between the member states in foreign policy on issues of mutual interest in periods between the meetings of the Council of Heads of State, and the Council of Heads of Government.
The Economic Council is the main executive body that ensures implementation of the agreements adopted by the CIS and decisions of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government on establishing and functioning of the free trade zone, as well as other issues of social and economic cooperation.
The Commission for Economic Issues is a permanent body working under the CIS Economic Council that provides an all-round study and assessment of draft documents prepared by the CIS Executive Committee and specialised social and economic agencies and coordinates positions of the member-states.
The Council of Defence Ministers of the CIS member states is a body of the Council of Heads of State responsible for military policy and military development of the CIS member states. It includes the defence ministers of the CIS member states (except Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine).
The Inter-parliamentary Assembly holds inter-parliamentary consultations, discusses issues of cooperation within the Commonwealth and drafts joint proposals in the sphere of national parliamentary activity.
The Economic Court of the CIS ensures the fulfillment of legal obligations sealed in interstate economic treaties and agreements and the settlement of economic disputes.
Apart from the above, 68 bodies of industry cooperation have been established. These bodies facilitate economic and social, as well as cultural cooperation and other spheres of activity between member states, and also joint efforts against crime and terrorism.
The CIS Executive Committee is a permanent executive, administrative, and coordinating body of the Commonwealth with headquarters in Minsk and an office in Moscow. Representatives of the CIS Executive Committee attend major meetings and forums held by the UN, OSCE, the European Union, UNECE, UNHCR, UNESCO, FAO, ESCAP, ASEAN, OAS, and other international organisations. The Executive Committee is presided over by Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev who assumed the position in October 2007.
First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has been Russia’s National Coordinator for CIS Affairs since March 19, 2009.
On January 1, 2011 the CIS presidency passed from Russia to the Republic of Tajikistan. As CIS co-chair, Russia continues to advocate cooperation in all spheres of Commonwealth activity.
In 2011, the Commonwealth of Independent States celebrates its 20th anniversary. An informal summit will be held in December in Moscow to mark the event. The CIS declared 2011 the Year of Food Security and Historical and Cultural Heritage. Active work will be held in these spheres during the year.
