ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM: CIS COUNTRIES NEED NEW INTEGRATION STRATEGY ON COMMUNITY OF INTERESTS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 1 2006

Yerevan, June 1. /ARKA/. The CIS countries must elaborate a new
strategy of integration based on the community of interests, RA Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan stated in Tsakhkadzor.

“Our major task is to elaborate a new integration model on the basis
of community of interests and present-day national priorities of
the CIS member-countries,” Gharibjanyan stated at the scientific and
practical conference “CIS as a new structure of interstate cooperation:
prospects of achievements and development.”

According to him, the formation of the CIS was not an easy process.

“Together we have to think over the past stage of the CIS’ development,
achievements and miscalculations, as well as the role in maintaining
and further development of multilateral political, economic and
humanitarian cooperation,” Gharibjanyan said.

According to him, an integrated alliance of a new quality facilitates
the accomplishment of tasks. As regards the CIS improvement and
modernization of mechanisms, Gharibjanyan pointed out the importance
of not only interstate dialogue, but also the dialogue between the
countries’ public, scientific, cultural and education spheres.

“Cultural relations and spiritual unity between our peoples formed
for centuries helped them to jointly overcome historical trials,
and gain victory. All this is a basis for cooperation in the CIS,”
Gharibjanyan said.

The conference is being held in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia. Among the
participants are scientists, political figures, diplomats from the
CIS countries, including Vice-Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee
Asan Kozhanov.