Dushanbe, 14.03.2016. (NIAT “Khovar”). — On Tuesday morning of 15 March, the 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of state-run news agencies from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) begins its work at the National Library of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

Its participants will review the results of work in 2015 and discuss cooperation plans for 2016. The interaction between photo services and preparations for the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States will also be high on the agenda. The heads of state news agencies will exchange views on the implementation of joint projects.

Attending the session will be the chairman of the CIS information council, the TASS general director — Sergey Mikhailov, first deputy general director of the TASS news agency — Mikhail Gusman, Aram Ananyan — Director General of the Armenpress News Agency, Dmitry Zhuk — the Director General of the Belarusian Telegraph Agency “BelTA”,  Dauren Diyarov — Director General of Kazinform International News Agency, Kubanychbek Taabaldiev — director of Kyrgyzstan’s National News Agency “Kabar” as well as Elshan Shahbalaev — Head of Department of Information Resources at the Azerbaijan State News Agency “AzerTAc” and representatives of the CIS Executive Committee.

The CIS Information Council was set up in 1996, in accordance with the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS Council of heads of state news agencies signed by CIS Heads of State on November 3, 1995. The council, whose maiden session took place in 1996, is called to raise the potential of the mass media in CIS member countries, increase the level of effectiveness of exchange of information, disseminate objective information about CIS member states and to provide media assistance for cooperation projects. The council is made up of the heads of Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Kazakhstani, Kyrgyz, Moldavian, Russian and Tajikistani state news agencies.