CIS to use all cooperation opportunities during Belarus chairmanship

Belarus will preside in the CIS in 2013. According to Sergei Lebedev, a concept of Belarus' chairmanship in this organization will be unveiled in the near future. "We will try to use all the opportunities to improve and strengthen cooperation between the CIS states in the interests of the peoples of our countries," Sergei Lebedev said.
The CIS heads of state decided to declare 2013 the Year of Ecological Culture and Environmental Protection in the CIS at the summit in Ashgabat on 5 December. "Thus, the CIS will focus on addressing this major issue in the coming year. The member states will keep working on the interstate program Radio Navigation, the innovative development program until 2020 and other initiatives," Sergei Lebedev informed.
The CIS Executive Secretary expressed hope that the CIS Executive Committee, industry councils and representatives of the CIS member states will sign a number of important documents in 2013, including the cooperation agreement in the field of official statistics, the concept of combating terrorism on railway transport, the agreement on coordination of interstate relations in using atomic energy for peaceful purposes, BelTA reports.
The CIS will hold a variety of cultural events in its cultural capitals in 2013. Three cities were announced cultural capitals of the CIS in the forthcoming year: Gabala (Azerbaijan), Gyumri (Armenia) and Mogilev (Belarus).