Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As part of the chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the CIS, on 26 August 2020, the 27th meeting of the Advisory Council of the heads of consular services of the ministries of foreign affairs of the Commonwealth member states was held in the format of videoconference.

The Advisory Council of Heads of Consular Services was created in accordance with the Protocol on the goals and principles of coordination of actions of the Commonwealth states in the consular area of 13 November 1992. Until July 2018, Uzbekistan participated in the work of the Advisory Council as an observer, after which it became its full member.

Representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan (as an observer), the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the CIS Executive Committee took part in the 27th meeting of the Advisory Council.

During the meeting, the members of the Council discussed the protection of the rights and interests of citizens of the participating states staying in the territories of the parties, providing them with legal assistance in the context of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Realizing the relevance of the effective measures taken by the governments of the participating States to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, they noted the need to strengthen joint work in the field of protecting the rights and interests of citizens in the territory of the Commonwealth states, as well as the readiness for further cooperation in providing assistance to citizens of the parties.

The meeting participants also considered issues of further cooperation in the consular and legal sphere, identified the tasks and promising areas of interaction between the consular services of the CIS member states, as well as between the competent authorities of the states on the practical implementation of the provisions of international treaties and agreements to which they are parties.

As a result of the event, a Protocol was signed, according to which the chairmanship of the Council of Heads of Consular Services of the Foreign Ministries of the CIS countries in 2021 was transferred to Armenia.