Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's video address to mark the 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Moscow, December 8, 2021
8 December 202113:00
2539-08-11-2021
Colleagues and friends,
This year we mark 30 years since the day the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was essential to prevent the complete breakup of centuries-long comprehensive ties between our nations, ensure social and other rights of the people, and create stable mechanisms of cooperation between the new independent states.
The Commonwealth in many ways made it possible to solve these large-scale tasks. During the first years of its existence, an entire range of agreements were signed in the economic, social and other spheres. A system of sector-specific cooperation bodies began to emerge. Later, this foundation was used to create other multilateral formats in the post-Soviet space: the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Union State and the Eurasian Economic Union.
Today, the CIS is a fully fledged international organisation and a popular dialogue platform to discuss a wide range of topics, from policies and the economy to security, education and culture. I praise the traditionally trust-based dialogue with our colleagues in the format of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers. The sincere discussion allows us not only to compare our positions on the most topical, sometimes acute issues, but also to coordinate our efforts. We are grateful to our partners for their traditionally broad support and co-authorship on Russian resolutions at the United Nations. The promotion of agreed approaches at universal and generally recognised multilateral associations makes it possible for us to speak with one voice of like-minded countries.
Developing joint political statements has become a good tradition. The range of topics of our consultations between foreign ministries are expanding. This year, in addition to the statement on the 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth, we adopted joint documents to ensure biological safety, develop cooperation in the field of migration, and strengthen international law. It is important to continue such a useful practice.
Every year, the range of the CIS's practical activities expands, and new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation are explored. During the pandemic, the Commonwealth promptly set up work to counter the spread of COVID-19 and exchange information between the member states, as well as establish a dialogue to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic.
Against the backdrop of international instability and greater tensions on the external borders of the CIS, we must continue to focus on all dimensions of security, the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking. The aggravation of the situation in Afghanistan, the buildup of military-biological activities of Western countries in the post-Soviet space and other challenges dictate the need for elevating this work to a new level within the framework of the Commonwealth and by combining its efforts with the CSTO, the SCO and other interstate associations in Eurasia.
We continue to pay close attention to the environment, climate change and green economy. It is important that a changing energy balance should promote the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Commonwealth countries and strengthen their energy security. On the international scene, we counter efforts to politicise the climate issue and attempts to use it as a tool of unfair competition.
We cherish the invaluable support of the Commonwealth countries in the fight against the glorification of Nazism and the falsification of history. We jointly uphold the truth about the Great Patriotic War, all the more so as our fathers and grandfathers paid a tremendous price for Victory. We will continue to devote the closest attention to this subject.
Cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to develop actively despite the pandemic. We are implementing a programme called Cultural Capitals of the Commonwealth, and the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation also holds its events. It has been decided that 2023 will be designated the Year of the Russian Language as the language of interethnic communication in the CIS. This will undoubtedly help further strengthen its positions in the Commonwealth states.
Colleagues, friends,
We consider efforts to establish friendly, equitable and truly partner ties within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States as our unconditional foreign policy priority. The outgoing year has been very effective in this regard. All of the Commonwealth statutory bodies held their meetings, including heads of state and government. Their participants adopted important decisions on strengthening cooperation. This is largely thanks to our Belarusian friends, now presiding in the organisation.
I am confident that such high-level contacts will also continue during the presidency of Kazakhstan next year. I wish every success to our Kazakh friends. I hope that our future joint work in the Commonwealth will contribute to the well-being and prosperity of all our nations and help promote stability and security in the region.
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