DUSHANBE, 28.09.2018 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States held its summit in Dushanbe today. The summit took place in the city residence of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Before the session, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon greeted the leaders of the Organisation’s member states, in particular, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Moldova Igor Dodon, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Purli Agamyradow and Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee – Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev.

After a joint photo session, the CIS Council of Heads of State under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan began in a narrow-format meeting, followed by an expanded meeting joined by the heads of delegations.

During the summit, the participants exchanged views on issues of CIS cooperation, in particular, the summing up of the result of the Tajikistan Chairmanship in Commonwealth and other item agenda included ensuring security and taking urgent action to combat terrorism, extremism, illegal drug trade and arms trafficking, solving security problems at the Commonwealth southern borders. It was decided to pass on the CIS presidency 2019 to Turkmenistan.

It was noted that during the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan to the CIS, special attention was paid to developing cooperation in the fields of science, education, youth policy, healthcare, sports and tourism.

In this period by the support of the Commonwealth member states a set of documents has been prepared and appropriate decisions were taken to develop the humanitarian partnership.

During the meeting, the leaders of CIS member states expressed deep appreciation to Tajikistan for its effective work during presidency in the Commonwealth and expressed their gratitude to the Tajikistani side for the warm welcome and excellent organisation of the summit.

The summit was also addressed by the Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee – Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev and Valentina Matvienko, the Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation parliament.

The documents signed include Convention on Cooperation in Exploration and Peaceful Use of Outer Space and on the preparations to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Statement of the heads of the CIS member states on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on the implementation in 2021 of the interstate program of cultural capital of the Commonwealth in Tajikistan.

On declaring 2021 as the Year of Architecture and Town Planning in the CIS and on the interstate program of joint measures to combat crime for 2019-2023.

Agreement on cooperation of the CIS member states in the fight against crimes in the field of information technology and on amending the provision on the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states.

On introducing amendments and additions to the provision on the Antiterrorist Center of the CIS member states and on the head of the Antiterrorist Center of the CIS member states.

On the chairman of the coordination committee on air defense under the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states and on the statement of heads of the states-participants of the CIS about the World Nomad Games.

On the statement of the heads of the CIS member states to the 90th anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov.