Meetings of the leaders of the CIS member states

On 18-19 September 2003 in Yalta meetings of the Council of Heads of State, Council of Heads of Government and Council of Foreign Ministers took place.

The Yalta Summit focused on the issues of further development of interaction between the CIS member states in economic sphere, completion of establishment of a free trade zone with gradual advancement to a single economic space by means of expanding integration. Vital issues of cooperation in social, humanitarian, military and other spheres of the Commonwealth countries' interaction were also considered.

The meetings of heads of states and heads of governments were preceded by the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Mr.K.I.Grishchenko, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, was elected to preside at the Council of Foreign Ministers.

At he beginning of the meeting Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime addressed the participants. He noted that the fruitful cooperation between the UN Office and the Commonwealth of Independent States could well contribute to counteracting this threat. The Yalta Summit gives a great opportunity to place the issue on such cooperation at the level of the leaders of all CIS countries.

The Council of Foreign Ministers addressed the Council of Heads of State with a proposal to hear Mr. Costa's information.

The leaders of the foreign offices adopted the Methodology for elaborating pilot international legal instruments of the CIS and the Rules of procedures for preparation to and conduct of ad-hoc expert groups on elaboration of the Commonwealth's draft documents, they also discussed a number of other issues. The Council of Foreign Ministers considered altogether more then 20 draft documents, half of which were submitted for further consideration by the Council of Heads of Government and Council of Heads of State.

The next meeting of the Council of Foreign Minister was scheduled to be held on 26 March 2003 in Minsk. In the afternoon of 18 September the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government was held. It was presided by the Chairman of the Council of Heads of Government, Prime Minister of Kyrgyz Republic Mr. N.T.Tanayev.

The heads of governments signed the Agreement on the CIS member states' interaction in the field of international shipments by cargo tracks, Memorandum on cooperation in the field of international transport corridors, Declaration on provision of security on transport in the Commonwealth member states, they also decided to establish a Council of heads of governmental organs of the Commonwealth member states for regulating securities' market and adopted the provisions on the said Council.

They also introduced supplements and amendments to the Agreement of 12 March 1993 on mutual recognition of rights to reduced transport rates for invalids and participants of the Great Patriotic War, and individuals enjoying similar status.

The Council of Heads of Government adopted the Concept for cooperation between the Commonwealth member states in the field of the population's health protection.

The prime ministers discussed a number of other problems. Altogether 32 documents were signed at the meeting of the Council.

The Council of Heads of Government decided to hold its next meeting on 16 April 2004 in Kyrgyz Republic.

On 19 September the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth was held. It was opened and presided by the Chairman of the Council of Heads of State, President of the Ukraine, Mr. L.D.Kuchma.

At the beginning (closed session) the heads of states examined the agenda, exchanged their views on a number of issues.

During the extended session the Council of Heads of State heard the information by Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes. The speaker stressed that the CIS countries are one of the top priority directions in the activity of his Office, especially now, in view of a large-scale production of drugs in a neighboring Afghanistan.

"We are very well aware of the fact, - said Mr. Costa,- that the CIS countries' leaders are very much concerned of this problem and do their utmost to organize the struggle against drug-relating crimes both on the national and international levels. The UN Office on Drugs and Crimes could contribute to implementation of the decisions, adopted within the CIS framework and relating to this matter, and we are ready to discuss with the CIS Executive Committee any possibility for this.

Taking into account the said information the Council of Heads of State adopted a Decision, instructing the CIS Executive Committee to cooperate with the UN Office on drugs and crime in the indicated sphere.

The presidents acquainted themselves with a written address by the Executive Director of the Joint UN program on HIV/AIDS Mr. Peter Piot, to the heads of the CIS member states. The address reads in particular: "The UNAIDS highly appreciates the cooperation it has with the CIS Executive Committee and the Commonwealth member states and declares its readiness to continue assisting those efforts."

The heads of states discussed the problems of developing interaction between the Commonwealth member states in economic sphere. This topic was of the top priority at the Yalta Summit. The discussion resulted in adoption of the Declaration, in which it was stressed that the heads of states of the Commonwealth declare the establishment and functioning of the free trade zone with the gradual advancement towards a single economic space to be the absolute priority for the CIS. In their Decision on completion of establishment of a free trade zone and development of interaction between the CIS member states in economic sphere the heads of states note that the legal arrangement for the free trade zone of the Commonwealth, in general, is completed. By that Decision they also adopted the Plan of the most significant actions aimed at development of a more efficient interaction of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States in economic sphere in 2003-2010. The Governments of the Commonwealth states, the Economic Council and the CIS Executive Committee were instructed to ensure implementation of the said Plan.

The Council of Heads of State adopted the Amendments to the Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States. They mainly deal with the issue of the chairmanship in the CIS organs. It was proposed to further the Commonwealth Charter's improvement.

The Program of preparation for and celebration of the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was approved. The document stipulates coordination of activities of the Commonwealth countries and organs in preparation for and celebration of the Victory jubilee, in conduct of joint actions.

The Decision on further implementation of the Decision by the Council of Heads of State of 1 June 2001 on actions in connection with the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, proclaimed April 26 the International Memory Day of the victims of radiation-related accidents and catastrophes in the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Council of Heads of State also supported the joint proposal by Belarus, Russia and Ukraine on supplementing the text of the UN General Assembly's resolution "On strengthening international cooperation and coordination of efforts in examining, mitigating and minimizing the consequences of Chernoby catastrophe" in the part, concerning the proclamation of April 26 the International Memory Day of the victims of radiation-related accidents and catastrophes. The Russian Federation in the capacity of the UN coordinator on this resolution will promote its consideration by the 58th session of the UN General Assembly.

The heads of states found it expedient for the CIS observers to participate in the forthcoming presidential elections in the Chechen Republic, Russian Federation. They also adopted a Decision on delegating the CIS observers to the elections of the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly to be held in December 2003.

The Council of Heads of State adopted a Declaration, in which they reconfirmed their adherence for Alma-Ata Memorandum on maintaining peace and stability in the Commonwealth of 10 February 1995, as well as their devotion to the spirit of the Decision on measures for settling the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. Recognizing once again Georgia's territorial integrity, the CIS Council of Heads of State demand the precise implementation of every point of those documents, - the Declaration reads.

A number of decisions on other issues were also taken. Altogether 18 documents were signed at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State. The next meeting of their Council the heads of states scheduled for 16 September 2004 in Astana.

On 6-7 October 2002 in the Republic of Moldova's capital, the city of Chisinau, the meetings of the Council of Heads Government, the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Foreign Ministers were held.

The central issues to have been discussed by the Commonwealth's supreme organs within the Chisinau summit's framework were the topics of the CIS countries' cooperation in economic spheres and the perspectives for the free trade zone's development, ensuring security and enhancement of interaction in struggling new threats and challenges, aspects of further increase in effectiveness of the Commonwealth organs' activity and optimizing their structures, improvement of the CIS mechanisms.

The meetings of heads of states and governments had been forerun by a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. On 6 October the foreign offices' leaders discussed 25 draft documents, the absolute majority of which were submitted for further consideration by the Councils of Heads of State and Government. On some of the problems the Council of Foreign Ministers took final decisions.

On 7 October the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government took place. It was chaired by Mr. I.N.Tasmagambetov, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister. 25 issues were considered by the Council of Heads of Government. It adopted the draft decisions of the Council of Heads of State: on the information on implementation of the top priority measures and on proposals on perspective tasks for the free trade zone's creation; on measures for further improvement of effectiveness of the CIS organs' activity and optimizing their structures; it adopted the quota's distribution, nomination and rotation of Deputy Chairmen of the CIS Executive Committee and other servicemen to quota positions in the Commonwealth's Executive Committee.

The prime-ministers signed the Agreement on Cooperation between the CIS member countries in the field of energy effectiveness and power supply, as well as the Agreement on cooperation between the CIS member states on the issues of home-coming of under age persons. They adopted the Decision on further activity of the "Mir" TV and Radio Company in its founding countries. The document stipulates the realization of a complex of measures aimed at improvement of the interstate TV and radio broadcast in the interest of enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation between the CIS member states. The Council of Heads of Government adopted the parameters of a single 2003 budget of CIS organs, financed from the budgets of the Commonwealth's member states, and took a number of decisions on some other issues.

The next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government is supposed to be conducted on 25 April 2003 in Moscow.

On 7 October the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State also took place.

First, a closed meeting was held, at which the heads of states exchanged their views on the problems of mutual interest, concerted the agenda and respective documents. The Decision was taken on awarding Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, with the Honorary Badge of the Commonwealth of Independent States for his distinguished contribution to strengthening and development of the Commonwealth of Independent States, to friendship, good neighborhood, mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between the Commonwealth's member states. The Council of Heads of State nominated Mr. Yuri F. Yarov as the Chairman of Executive Committee - CIS Executive Secretary.

Later an enlarged meeting of the Council of Heads of State was held. In his opening statement the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Putin noted that the closed meeting of the Commonwealth countries' presidents "was really of an unofficial and open character". It considered the vital problems of interstate policy, as well as the perspectives for the Commonwealth's development. He also informed that the Ukraine's President Mr. Kuchma put forward a number of proposals regarding further development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation within the CIS framework, having noted that the Ukraine President's initiatives could be discussed at a special session of the Commonwealth's heads of states, which would be devoted to cooperation in economic sphere.

The Council of Heads of State has given the priority to analyzing the course of implementation by the CIS member states of intended measures for establishing a free trade zone and considered proposals on perspective tasks of its formation with taking into consideration the development of economic processes in the world community. In the respective Decision it advised the Council of Heads Government to take measures for implementation of acts aimed at establishment of a full-scale free trade zone. The CIS Economic Council and the Commonwealth's sectoral organs were also given respective instructions.

The presidents adopted a Decision on measures for further increase in effectiveness of the CIS organs' activities and optimizing their structures. It contains concrete instructions to the Council of Heads of Government, Council of Foreign Ministers, sectoral and other organs of the Commonwealth, as well as stipulates a new size of staff of the organs, which are financed from the CIS countries' budgets.

The heads of states supported the Republic of Armenia's request to assign the CIS observers to the presidential elections in this state and to the elections of the Armenian National Assembly members.

The meeting of the Council of Heads of State adopted the Interstate Program of joint measures for struggling crimes for 2003-2004, approved the Concept of cooperation between the CIS member states in counteracting illegal drugs' and precursors' turnover, established an Office of the Anti-terrorist center of the CIS member states in the Central-Asian region, adopted the Program of enhancing cooperation between the CIS member states in the border-guard sphere and the Program of military and technical cooperation between the Commonwealth's member states. The Protocol on adoption of the Provisions on organization and conduct of joint anti-terror measures on the territories of the CIS member states, the Agreement on establishment of the Council of presidents of Supreme Arbitrary, Economic and other courts, considering cases on economic disputes, the Decision on preparation to celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 were signed.

The heads of states also adopted decisions on some other issues, vital for the Commonwealth.

The next meeting of the Council of Heads of State is scheduled to be held on 10 October 2003 in the Ukraine.

On 29-30 November 2001 in Moscow the Jubilee Summit of the Commonwealth was held. The meetings of the CIS supreme bodies focused on the discussion of the 10th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States. With regard to this event the summit adopted the Analytical report "The results of the CIS's activity over 10 years and the tasks for the outlook", Declaration by the heads of the Commonwealth's participating states in connection with the 10th anniversary of the CIS's establishment, as well as the corresponding draft Decision of the Council of Heads of States.

The drafts of the three documents were prepared by the Working Group, set up by the Decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers of 31 May 2001.

On 29 November 2001 within the framework of the Jubilee Summit the meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS were held.

16 issues were considered by the heads of foreign offices.

They adopted an Action plan for raising efficiency of coordination of foreign political activity of the CIS member states, made a review of the course of implementation of the plan of the multi-level consultations between the Commonwealth's foreign offices for 2001 and adopted a similar plan for the year to come. Supported was the initiative by the Council of the Heads of Security Organs of the Commonwealth's countries on preparation of draft documents, stipulating the procedure of organization and conduct of joint anti-terrorist actions on the territory of the CIS member states. The prepared and concerted document is to be submitted for consideration by the Commonwealth's Council of Heads of State in accordance with the rules of procedure.

The prime-ministers discussed more than twenty issues. They adopted the Interstate program for setting up a network of information and marketing centers for advancing goods and services to the CIS member states' markets for the period till 2005, as well a the Rules of organization of interaction between the CIS member states in liquidation of consequences of emergency situations of natural and technogene character, adopted the draft Decision on preparation for celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and the Program of principal events of cooperation between the CIS member states in the field of culture till 2005. They signed the Agreement on coordination of actions in the field of licensing of educational activity, attesting and accrediting educational establishments of the Commonwealth's countries, adopted the Interstate program for implementation of the Concept of establishment of a single (common) educational space of CIS. The Council of Heads of Government has also considered a number of other issues and adopted corresponding decisions.

On 30 November 2001 in the Kremlin a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth was held. It was attended by the presidents of all twelve countries of the CIS.

It began with the closed session, where the heads of states exchanged their opinions on the problems of mutual interest and considered and concerted the summit's agenda. Later a general meeting was held.

In his opening statement at the plenary session the Chairman of the Council of Heads of State , President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin congratulated its participants with the CIS's 10th anniversary and addressed the peoples of every Commonwealth's country and their presidents with welcoming words on behalf of the leadership and peoples of Russia.

He pointed out: all the achievements, reached by the Commonwealth's countries over the past decade, resulted from the real rapprochement of economic interests of all the CIS states. The Commonwealth's today is almost simultaneous revival of business partnership, growing attention of the CIS countries to each other.

After the official opening of the plenary session the presidents of the Commonwealth's countries discussed the agenda's items.

In the adopted Declaration in connection with the 10th anniversary of the CIS's establishment the political leaders of the Commonwealth's countries gave their appreciation of the ten year period of the Commonwealth's existence, confirmed their devotedness to the CIS's dynamic development, identified the main guidelines of cooperation to be the focus of joint efforts of the states. Upon their decision the text of the Declaration is to be published by the mass media of the Commonwealth's member states and distributed in the UN, OSCE and other international organizations. They have also taken note of the Analytical report " The Results of the CIS's Activity Over 10 Years and the Tsks for the Outlook".

Under the initiative of the Russian Federation the meeting's agenda comprised the point on the Declaration by the heads of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States on the situation around Afghanistan. The heads of states adopted the Declaration's text, decided to publish it in the Commonwealth's countries, advised the CIS Executive Committee in cooperation with the foreign ministers of the Commonwealth's states to take proper measures for distribution of the document's text in the UN, OSCE and other international organizations. The Declaration gives positive opinion on the course of the anti-terrorist operation by the international coalition in Afghanistan. It underlines that the identification of the future of this country is an exclusive and integral right of the afghans themselves, calls for enhancing humanitarian assistance to the afghan people and elaborating a comprehensive international program for the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan's national economy.

In general, at the meeting of the Council on 30 November 2001 seven documents were adopted, three of them - in the form of protocol decisions, signed by the Chairman of the Council of Heads of State Mr. Vladimir Putin. Other four decision were signed by all the twelve presidents of the Commonwealth's countries.

On 31 May-1 June 2001 in Minsk meetings of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government were held. Those meetings had been preceded by a session of the foreign ministers of the Commonwealth's countries. On 31 May the heads of foreign policy institutions mainly considered the issues to be further submitted for discussion by the heads of governments and the heads of states. However, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) took independent decisions on a number of problems. For example, it supported the Ukraine's initiative regarding establishment of a Working group for preparation for the CIS jubilee summit. It was tasked with preparation of an analytical report on the Commonwealth's 10 years-long period of activity and finalizing a corresponding draft Decision of the Council of Heads of State. The CFM adopted a Decision on the conduct of a scientific and practical conference, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the CIS's establishment and advised the Commonwealth's Executive Committee to ensure its preparation. The foreign ministers have also considered the issues relating to coming into force of interstate and intergovernmental documents, facilitating the free trade zone's formation, on implementation of decisions, adopted by the CFM in 2000. The heads of foreign political agencies decided to further the Russian Federation's (its Foreign Minister Mr. Ivanov's) chairmanship in their body.

On 31 May in the CIS head-quarters the meeting of the Commonwealth's Council of Heads of Government took place. It focused on the issues of interaction in the sphere of economy, health protection, education, combating crime and terrorism, military and technical cooperation. A number of significant documents were adopted. Among them - the Agreement on cooperation in the field of sanitary protection of the CIS member states' territories, Agreement on information exchange in the sphere of education, Decision on establishment of the Coordinating Council of the tax agencies' heads of the CIS member states. The main guidelines of activity of the Coordinating Council are: cooperation between the CIS member states' tax agencies, elaboration of proposals on improvement and harmonization of national legislation, facilitation of implementation of interstate and intergovernmental agreements and decisions in the field of tax policy. The meeting of the Council adopted a Perspective Plan of development of military cooperation between the CIS member states for the period up till 2005. It stipulates framing up of legal, information and analytical documents on cooperation in military and political, military and technical sphere, peace-making activity, humanitarian sphere.

Other documents of vital importance were also signed.

In view of cessation of the chairmanship of the Republic of Belarus in the Council of Heads of Government a decision was taken to give it over to Georgia in the person of its State minister.

On 1 June 2001 a meeting of heads of states took place. It confirmed the readiness of the Commonwealth's countries to develop mutually profitable cooperation in various spheres. Traditionally much of the summit's attention was given to the problem of international policy, world's strategic stability, settlement of armed conflicts. The heads of states were unanimous in the opinion on the necessity of the CIS' participation, along with the UN and OSCE, in ensuring international guarantees of non-resumption of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia.

The Address to the CIS member states' peoples and to the world community in connection with the 60th anniversary of commencement of the Great Patriotic War can be considered a significant document, adopted by the summit. In it the heads of states noted that the courage and heroism of the Commonwealth countries' peoples played a decisive role in the victory over fascism and militarism, in the struggle for the triumph of freedom and peace on the Earth. They reconfirmed the CIS states' commitment to make a weighty contribution to the world community's joint efforts on ensuring international security and stability, called on all states to make their best in the interests of settling conflicts and to display solidarity respond to new challenges, and first of all - those from the part of international terrorism and extremism. The leaders of the Commonwealth's countries spoke up in favor of strengthening the UN's central role in establishment of a democratic way of building the world.

The CIS Council of Heads of State proceeding from the fact that 26 April 2001 was the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, which had become the biggest radiation catastrophe of the XXth century with the consequences of a planetary scale, adopted an Address by the heads of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States to the United Nations member states with the proposal to declare 26 April the International Day in Memory of Victims of Radiation Accidents and Catastrophes. The CIS Executive Committee was advised to forward the document's text to the UN.

The heads of states have also signed a number of other documents.

The term of Collective peace-keeping forces in Abkhazia, Georgia, was extended till 31 December 2001.

The Council of Heads of State decided to delegate observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States to the elections of the President of the Republic of Belarus in September 2001.

The heads of states took a decision to prolong the Russian Federation's chairmanship in the Council of Heads of State in the person of its President Mr. V.V.Putin.

It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Commonwealth's Council of Heads of State on 30 November 2001 in Moscow.

At the press-conference after the Minsk summit many presidents of the Commonwealth's countries expressed their high appreciation of the summit's results, positively spoke up on the CIS's activity, supported further continuation of the course for deepening practical interaction of states in the framework of the Commonwealth and development of mutually profitable partnership.

On 30 November - 1 December 2000 in Minsk meetings of the CIS Council of Heads of State and Government were held. During the Minsk summit a final decision on launching a full-range activity of the CIS Anti-terrorist Center was taken. The heads of government adopted the Provisions on this body, which will execute its activity making use of the capacity of the specialized anti-terrorist units of the CIS security organs and specialized agencies. It will be tasked with coordination of interaction between the competent bodies of the Commonwealth countries in their struggle against international terrorism and other kinds of extremism, establishment of a data base on international terrorists' and other extremists' organizations, on the tendencies of spreading the international terrorism, facilitating the CIS countries in preparation for and conduct of investigation and combined operations on struggling terrorism, participation in shaping the interstate programs within the Commonwealth on the struggle against extremism, etc. The financing procedure of this center's activity was also determined.

The heads of state have prolonged the term of presence and the Mandate of the Collective peace-building forces for peace keeping in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia. They adopted a joint Declaration on closing the Chernobyl atomic power station, signed the Protocol and Decision on cessation of a number of multilateral documents, which had been adopted within the CIS framework. Drawing up an inventory, made upon the decision of the Council of Heads of State of 2 April 1999, resulted in cessation of validity of 41 international treaties, concluded within the Commonwealth, and of 122 decisions of the Council of Heads of State. Some other issues were discussed at the summit.

Mr. S.A.Niyazov, President of Turkmenistan, was not present at the Minsk meeting of the CIS heads of state. The official delegation of Turkmenistan was headed by Mr. S.N.Muradov, Chairman of Medzhlis.

A very significant part of the CIS summit made bilateral meetings of presidents of a number of states. According to political leaders, their outcomes can be considered quite productive. In the negotiations' course some concrete problems regarding further development of interstate relationships were settled.

20-21 June 2000. Moscow. Meeting of the Councils of Heads of State and Government. The Moscow summit demonstrated the readiness of CIS member states to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of economy, to undertake joint efforts in the field of struggle

against international terrorism and other kinds of extremism, to facilitate strengthening of security and stability of the world.

One of the most important summit’s outcomes has become the adoption of the Declaration by the Commonwealth’s leaders on maintaining strategic stability. By this document the leaders of states expressed their devotion to strengthening the world’s strategic security. They welcomed Russia’s ratification of the SOW-2 Treaty, Treaty on comprehensive prohibition of nuclear tests and of the package of 1997 agreements on Anti-Rocket Defense. They declared their hope for ratification of these documents by the United States of America.

The Council of Heads of State adopted the program of the CIS member states on struggle against international terrorism and other kinds of extremism for the period of up to 2003, adopted the Decision on establishment of the Anti-terrorism Center and nominated its chief. In these documents it was noted that the international terrorism is becoming ever more spread, its exhibitions cause mass casualties, result in demolish of material and spiritual securities. The trans-national character of ever growing danger of terror and criminal extremism oblige the CIS states to consolidate their efforts in establishing international system of joint measures of struggle against terrorism and other kinds of extremism.

It is intended to carry out the CIS member states’ cooperation observing their national interests in the format of the states concerned. The heads of states confirmed their devotion to developing economic integration within the CIS, elimination of barriers in the process of establishing the free trade zone. This became evident from the adopted Decision on realization of the decisions by the Council of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States of 2 April 1999 on establishment of the free trade zone. In view of the appeal by the Republic of Tajikistan the decision was taken to cease functioning of the Collective Peace-Making Forces in this country and to launch their disband. The heads of states stressed that the Collective Peace-making Forces have reached the goal of their mission and the positive experience of political settlement in Tajikistan is of great importance for solving similar situations in other regions.

The mandate of the Collective Peace-Keeping Forces in the zone of the conflict in Abkhasia, Georgia up till 31 December 2000 or till the moment when one of the parties to the conflict displays its will to cease the operation.

The heads of states took into consideration the information by Mr. Yuri Yarov, Chairman of the Executive Committee-CIS Executive Secretary, on the Program of Action for development of the Commonwealth of Independent States for the period of up till 2005 and advised him to make annual reports on their realization.

This program of joint actions for development of the CIS, covering the upcoming 5-year period, the day before had been adopted by the Council of Heads of Government in accordance with the task put forward by the Council of Heads of State of 25 January 2000. Its main goal is to give a new impact to developing equal partnership within CIS on various aspects of activity.

The Provisions on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States was adopted.

25 january 2000. Moscow. The summits of the heads of states and governments. Mr. Vladimir Putin, acting President of the Russian Federation, was elected as the Chairman of the Council of Heads of State. Adopted documents: desicions on counteracting international terrorism in the light of the OSCE Istanbul summit, on the draft Program of action for development of CIS up till 2005, on the Appeal by the CIS member states’ heads to the peoples of the Commonwealth in connection with the 55th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. They analysed the Report on implementation of the Interstate programme of joint measures for struggle against organized crime and other kinds of dangerous crime on the territory of the CIS member states for the period up till 2000.

29 April 1998. Moscow. The Council of Heads of State appointed Mr. Boris Berezovsky asa the CIS Executive Secretary. They adopted the Decision on the conduct of the Special interstate forum for improvement of the CIS’s activity and its reformation, adopted the Protocol decision on the programme of development of military cooperation between the CIS states up till 2001.

23 October 1997. Cishinau. The summits of heads of states and heads of governments. They adopted the Decision on preparation for the extraordinary meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, considered the draft Agreement on the common agrarian market of the Commonwealth.

27-28 March 1997. Moscow. Meetings of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Main results - adoption of decisions on the Concept of economic integration development of CIS, on Main events of integration development of CIS states for 1997. Discussed were the documents, relating to the issues of peace-keeping in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia, and the term of presence of the Collective peace-making forces in Tajikistan was prolonged.

17 May 1996. Moscow. The Council of Heads of State adopted a statement on support for democratic processes in Russia. Considered was the draft Perspective plan of integration development of the Commonwealth in 1996-1997, with regard to the issues of restoration of the rights of deported persons, national minorities and peoples, peace-making activity, interaction between the boarder troops, struggle against organized crime.

19 January 1996. Moscow. The Council of the Heads of State considered the perspectives of further development of the CIS in economic field, in particular, of the formation of the Customs and Payments Unions.

26 May 1995. Minsk. Meetings of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Adopted was a block of documents on Tajikistan, in particular, it was decided to prolong up to the end of 1995 the term of presence of the CIS peace-making forces in the republic. Adopted was the Decision on prolongation of the collective peace-making forces in Abkhazia. Adopted were the documents relating to the problem of collective security. There were signed the Agreement on establishment of the Interstate monetary committee, Convention on human rights and others.

10 February 1995. Alma-Ata. Joint meeting of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Adopted documents: Concept of the collective security of states-parties to the Treaty on collective security, Agreement on establishment of a united system of air-born defense of CIS states, Decision on mutual settlement of accounts between the Commonwealth rail ways etc.

21 October 1994. Moscow. the summit of heads of state and heads of government. Central topic of the meeting - activation of integration processes in the CIS. Adopted were the memorandum on basic guidelines of integration development of the CIS, Agreement on Establishment of the Interstate Economic Committee of the Economic Union, Agreement on establishment of a payment union, considered was the Perspective plan of integration development.

15 April 1994. Moscow. Meeting of the Council of Heads of State. The most important results - signature by all of the CIS states of the Agreement on establishment of the free trade zone, Ukraine joins the Economic Union as an associated member, adoption of a pack of documents on cooperation between the customs services.

23-24 December 1993. Ashkhabad. Meetings of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Turkmenistan joins the Treaty on establishment of the Economic Union, signed was the Ashkhabad Declaration on development of cooperation and enhancing trust in relations between the CIS states.

9 December 1993. Georgia signed the documents on its joining the CIS.

24 September 1993. Moscow. Meetings of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Basic results - signature of the Treaty on establishment of the Economic Union, agreements on cooperation in the field of mechanical engineering etc.

14-15 May 1993. Moscow. Meeting of the Council of Heads of State. Adopted were decisions on establishment of the Economic Union, on the program of preparation of draft documents on further strengthening of CIS, on Coordinating and Consultative Committee of the Commonwealth, on the CIS Executive Secretariat, on permanent and plenipotentiary representatives of the Commonwealth’s member states to statutory organs of the CIS.

16 April 1993. Minsk. Extraordinary meeting of the heads of states. Discussed were the proposals by B.Yeltsyn and N. Nazarbayev on strengthening the CIS: on improvement of the security system, effective functioning of the economic space, improvement of the forms of cooperation and establishment of coordinating organs, on formation of the customs union - potential single market, on coordinating the position in foreign policy, joint protection of human rights.

22 January 1993. Minsk. Joint meeting of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. Adopted was the CIS Charter, coordinated were the documents on foundation of the Interstate Bank, on regulation of the interstate securities’ market etc.

9 October 1992. Bishkek. Joint meeting of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government. The following problems were considered: on rapprochement of economic legislation of the CIS states, on a single monetary system and coordination of fiscal and credit and monetary policy of the states-parties to the ruble zone, on visaless movement of citizens of the CIS states over the territory of its members, on establishment of the interstate TV and radio broadcasting company etc.

6 July 1992. Moscow. The Council of Heads of State discussed three packs of documents: economic cooperation, collective security, interaction in humanitarian sphere. Adopted were the documents on distribution of the property of the former USSR located abroad, on legal succession with regard to governmental archives of the former USSR, on the status of the Economic Court of CIS etc.

15 May 1992. Tashkent. Meetings of the councils of the heads of state and government of CIS. The main outcome of the meeting - signature of the Treaty on Collective Security. Adopted were also agreements on the principles and procedure of implementation of the Treaty on conventional arms in Europe, on chemical weapons, statement on reduction of the Armed forces of the former USSR etc.

20 March 1992. Kiev. The Council of Heads of State of CIS comes back to military-relating issues. There were concerted agreements, relating to the powers of CIS supreme organs on defense issues, on the Chief Commander of the CIS United Armed Forces (UAF), on the legal basis for their activity and principles of formation. Adopted were the following documents: agreements on the groups of military observers and collective peace-keeping forces in the CIS, on the principles of the CIS UAF’s formation and service, on the status of the CIS Boarder troops, Declaration on non-use of the force or threat of use of the force in relations between the CIS member states etc.

14 February 1992. Minsk. Meetings of the councils of heads of state and government. The participants focused their attention on the armed forces of the former USSR. Adopted were the following documents: the Appeal by the heads of states of the Commonwealth on impermissibility of the use or threat of use of the force, Agreement on the status of Strategic Forces, Declaration on observance of the principles of cooperation within the Commonwealth of Independent States, Agreement on coordination of interstate relations in the field of electric power industry and so on.

16 January 1992. Moscow. Heads of CIS States adopt the Protocol on the temporal Provisions on the Working group for organizational and technical preparation and conduct of meetings of the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Heads of Government, Protocol on appointment of the Coordinator of the Working group.

30 December 1991. Minsk. The heads of states sign agreements on strategic forces, armed forces and boarder troops, joint activity in researching and using space, etc.

21 December 1991. Alma-Ata. Heads of eleven republics, members of the former USSR, adopted the Alma-Ata Declaration and Protocol to the Agreement on Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In these documents the leaders of Azerbaijan Republic, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakstan, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine certified their determination to establish the Commonwealth of Independent States on the basis of equality. It was unanimously announced, that from that day on the Union of SSR ceased its existence.

8 December 1991. Belarus. Belovezhskaya forest preserve. Russian President Boris Yeltsyn, Chairman of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet Stanislav Shushkevich, Ukranian President Leonid Kravchuk signed the Agreement on Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States.