CIS and the Eurasian Block: Putin Hosts Informal Meeting at Home; Does Russia’s Future Lie in East?
In 2017, the trade turnover between CIS countries grew by more than a quarter. Vladimir Putin reported this at the informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In the outgoing year, the association was presided over by Russia. Moscow focused on strengthening economic ties in the Eurasian space.
Alexander Balitsky with the details.
Despite the meeting being informal Putin's Moscow Oblast residence where the CIS-leaders will show up any minute has all the necessary attributes: the flags of all states whose leaders will be present. The summit proves once again that the ties within the CIS remain close and enduring.
Putin heartily greets every guest of Novo-Ogaryovo with firm handshakes and friendly pats on the back managing to briefly discuss something with Lukashenko. Kazakhstan's president Nazarbayev is already in the New Year mood.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: "Happy upcoming New Year, Mr. Putin. Thank you for your invitation. I'm happy to meet all the guests".
All faces are familiar even though the new president of Kirghizia Jeenbekov is here for the first time. His first group photo at the traditional photo shoot.
At the roundtable, Putin introduces the agenda. The year of the Russian presidency is almost over. According to Putin, one of their recent achievements was a tangible 25% increase in trade which equals to 75 billion dollars.
Vladimir Putin: "During the outgoing term, Russia, as a CIS-president state, focused its efforts on integrating into the Eurasian space strengthening the international authority of the Commonwealth and the effective work of its executive bodies. Our key priority was eliminating the barriers to goods and services and simplifying the customs procedures".
This year, Russia was also successful in fighting terrorism. Its Syrian operation proves that. The Belorussian president believes only the Russian efforts saved the Syrian state.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belorussia: "If Russia did not intervene, Syria would have seized to exist. There's still much work to do but Russia's determination to consolidate the 'healthy' powers and to strengthen the state and its political system as well as the organization of the National Dialogue Conference made a great contribution to resolving the existing Syrian issues".
His counterparts agree that Islamic terrorism is a common threat. Besides, the hotbeds of terrorism have moved right to the CIS borders ISIS is already in Afghanistan and is fighting the militants from Taliban. All that's happening along the borders of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. All central Asia's in danger.
Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Kirghizia: "ISIS and other similar groupings are promoting their ideology in Central Asia. They are actively recruiting our citizens into their ranks. I believe that only the cooperation of the CIS-states in terms of border security will help us ensure the collective security and the protection of our state borders and confront the majority of contemporary challenges and threats”.
The leaders agreed to further cooperate in matters of security and foreign policy. Putin said that international law must be the basis for all.
Vladimir Putin: “Our states are working closely on matters of the regional and international agenda. We advocate building a just world order based on the universally acknowledged principles of international law and active participation of the UN. I believe that our further cooperation within the CIS-framework in different spheres corresponds to the fundamental interests of our people. Together, we'll confront the issues of the social-economic development strengthen our stability and will ensure the security of our states.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan: "We always discuss and solve all our problems. We'll keep on helping each other respecting each other's independence and sovereignty. We'll move forward without losing our current relations".
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan: "I want to express my gratitude to all our neighbor states and the CIS-states for supporting Uzbekistan. On behalf of Uzbek people, I'd like to thank you, Mr. Putin. This year was tough indeed. You behaved like a true friend. Understanding the current state of Uzbekistan you supported us".
Right now, the talks are continuing behind closed doors. There are a lot of issues to discuss in detail especially since informal meetings usually have no formal agenda.
Alexander Balitsky, Pyotr Rovnov Mikhail Devyatkin, and Sergey Rubanov Vesti, Novo-Ogaryovo