DUSHANBE, 11.10.2017 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon attended a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Sochi.

The meeting was attended by President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Moldova Igor Dodon, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sapar Isakov.

Summit participants in the limited attendance talks discussed the main directions and prospects of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian fields. Following the talks, consultations were held with the participation of the delegations.

In his address in an expanded format, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon recalled Tajik government goals and objectives on transfer of the CIS rotating chairmanship from Russia to Tajikistan in 2018.

The Head of State Emomali Rahmon particularly highlighted the strengthening of interstate cooperation between the CIS nations in the field of economy, energy, industry, transportation, agricultural sector, labor migration, humanities and innovation. And in this context, President Emomali Rahmon in particular pointed out to the implementation of the Commonwealth’s strategic economic development plan until 2022 and CIS Free-Trade Zone Treaty.

In addition, Emomali Rahmon expressed great interest in further strengthening of military-technical cooperation in the framework of the implementation of the Concept for Military Cooperation between the CIS member countries until 2020, and the 2016–2020 Programme for Cooperation between CIS participating states on strengthening security on external borders.

The implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the interstate cooperation was also emphasized.

During the summit, the participants exchanged views on key issues addressing enhancing security and stability in Afghanistan, strengthening border security, combating international terrorism and extremism, illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and combatting organised crime and other dangerous crimes.

The participants also discussed anti-corruption cooperation between CIS member states as well as cooperation in preventing the legalisation of criminal income. The CIS leaders also announced 2019 as the Year of the Book.

Appropriate decisions were made regarding the results of the next CIS chairmanship which will pass from Russia to Tajikistan on January 1, 2018.