Minsk hosts session of CIS Prime Ministers

The CIS officials considered various issues and signed several documents directed on deepening economic and humanitarian cooperation within the CIS, as well as protecting safety.

In particular, Uzbekistan joined the free trade zone of the CIS as a protocol on implementation of agreement on zone of free trade zone of CIS from 19 October 2011 among its member states and Uzbekistan. The documents sets mechanism of accession of Uzbekistan to the agreement on creation of free trade zone in the area, which will operate based on rules and norms of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The session also considered implementation of intergovernmental programme of innovative cooperation of the CIS member states till 2020 and determined measures on further realization of the document. It was said that 11 pilot projects were approved and they should be implemented. The projects cover such areas as ICT, production technologies, power, energy saving, rational consumption, etc.

The CIS Prime Ministers signed an agreement on coordination of inter-governmental relations in use of nuclear power in peaceful purpose. The document envisages to carry out agreed measures on ensuring joint actions, directed at sustainable development of nuclear power in the member-states of the agreement and assistance in implementation of legal base of the CIS in use of nuclear power.

The session approved a concept on creation of database of patents and innovation of the CIS directed at speeding up commercialization of the results of the scientific-technical activities and development of entrepreneurship in innovation sphere in the CIS.

The move should create conditions for successful promotion results of scientific-technical activities in internal and external markets, introduction of objects of intellectual property into turnover, etc.

The session of the heads of the governments of the CIS also considered issues of cooperation in humanitarian sphere.

The sides signed an agreement on cooperation in sphere of protection of environment in the CIS. The document is directed at closer cooperation of the CIS member-states in protection of environment – use of land, soil, water, atmosphere, etc. It is planned to create Inter-governmental ecologic council of the CIS.

The Prime Ministers also signed an agreement on mutual acknowledgement of documents of higher/higher professional education. The agreement will be another step towards creation of the single CIS space.

The document determines bases of mutual acknowledgement of documents on certified and accredited educational programme.

The session also approved an action plan for 2013-2015 on implementation of realization of the strategy on development of physical culture and sport in the CIS till 2020. The action plan includes over 100 events. It also stipulates fighting doping.

Prime Ministers adopted decision on financing work on creation of single system on accounting citizens of the third states and persons without citizenship, entering into the CIS member states. They also considered issues of training military officers, etc.

The heads of the governments also discussed activities of several bodies of the CIS, organizational, budget-finance and other issues, related to interaction within the organization.

The sides adopted decision that next session of the council will be held on 20 November 2013 in Russia.