RELATIONSHIP WITH CIS COUNTRIES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOREIGN-POLICY PRIORITY FOR RUSSIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.05.2009 18:07 GMT+04:00

Relationship with CIS countries is the most important foreign-policy
priority for Russia, told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during the
meeting with Farit Mukhametshin, head of the Federal Agency for CIS
affaires, counterparts living abroad, and international humanitarian
cooperation, Kremlin press office reports. "Unfortunately, not always
that priority is placed in the forefront, and that was the reason of
establishing the new Federal Agency for CIS affaires ," Mr.Medvedev
said. He stressed, that Russian scientific and cultural centers,
especially in CIS countries, must have qualified personnel. "Many
countries are very active in post-Soviet space, they do not spare
efforts and resources in order to finance the presence of their
personnel in other countries, " Medvedev said.

"We should be very attentive to these issues, since these are not
some countries at a distance , these are our close neighbors, we have
had a common past with them, I hope we will have a common future,"
stressed the president of Russia. In his turn Farit Mukhametshin
noted, that the Federal Agency for CIS affaires "today shows its
need" and perceived by foreign partners as one more affirmation,
that "CIS space is prior for Russia". This year Russian centers
have already been opened in Kishinev (Moldavia), Baku (Azerbaijan),
Yerevan (Armenia) with support of RF ministry of foreign affairs,
Mukhametshin said. On June 9 intergovernmental agreement will be
signed with Belorussia and a new center will open its doors in Minsk.