Sergey Lebedev: "Withdrawal of any state from the CIS is, certainly, a definite loss for the Commonwealth. But such a step will have a negative consequence, primarily, for a leaving country"

- The next session of the council of the CIS leaders will be held in Bishkek on October 10. What is the agenda?

- The agenda includes 18 issues. Among them are consideration of drafts of such documents as a Strategy of CIS economic development until 2020 and priority trends of cooperation of the CIS states in the sphere of transport for period until 2020. During the session it is proposed to consider and adopt a number of documents for implementation of the Concept of further development of the Commonwealth, Convention on the borderline cooperation and agreement on the Council on interregional and borderline cooperation, plan of main actions on preparation and celebration of the 65th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the program of cooperation in prevention of illegal migration for period until 2011 and others. Notably, the heads of the states may also widen the agenda.

- Is there a plan to discuss the situation in the South Caucasus after August 8 during the next CIS summit? Which is a position of the CIS executive commission on events in South Ossetia?

- The draft agenda does not include this issue so far. But it is not ruled out that the heads of the states will also discuss this issue. As for the position of the CIS executive committee, it was fixed in the statement of its chairman, which reflects concern over the tragic events in South Ossetia, resulting in bloodshed and death to civilians and peacekeepers. On those days it was important to stop fire as soon as possible and return to talks for the search of peaceful ways of the conflict resolution.

Therefore, the agreements on ceasefire and provision of access to humanitarian aid, attained on August 12, as well as the commitment not to use force, satisfied the CIS executive commission.

Later we also voiced regret with to the decision of the Georgian leadership to break with the CIS.

- "President" of Abkhazia Sergey Bagapsh stated the possible accession of Abkhazia to the CIS. "Such possibility is high. We have already raised this issue and if the CIS members consider it possible, we (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) will join this organization". Do you think this intention of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is real? How will these unrecognized formations join the CIS?

- The Commonwealth of Independent States is open for new members. This issue is the competence of the Council of the CIS heads of states. The CIS executive committee has not received any announcements of the kind so far.

At the same time, the possible accession of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to CIS must be preceded by the recognition of these republics by all the CIS states.

- Which role does Azerbaijan play in the CIS system, in your opinion? Is Baku highly valuable for the Commonwealth?

- The cooperation of Azerbaijan with other CIS states is developing rapidly. This is undoubtedly the result of the successful economic rise and growing international influence of Azerbaijan in recent years. Such a dynamics can only be welcomed.

The international banking conference of the CIS member-states, during which it is planning to discuss issues of banking integration, will be held in Baku in late October, for example. In conditions when the West is sustaining serious crisis, the CIS states have a sufficient arsenal of means not only for preserving stability but also for a significant move forward. Undoubtedly, Azerbaijan plays a significant role in this consistent movement.

- Ukraine, following Georgia, announced that it studies the effectiveness of being the CIS member. Experts say that the withdrawal of Ukraine and Georgia from the CIS will challenge the effectiveness of the organization. Do you share this opinion?

- Withdrawal of any state from the CIS, is certainly a definite loss for the Commonwealth. But such a step will have a negative consequence, primarily, for the leaving country. Most in CIS have a sober outlook on things and they realize that close cooperation and interaction within CIS meets the profound interests of each of the CIS member.

- A high level group for raising the CIS effectiveness, including representatives of different member-states of the organization, was created last year. Which results have been achieved by this work group?

- Speaking in brief, the main task of the current stage of the CIS functioning is to strengthen and develop the positive experience of integration cooperation, raise its effectiveness, which became the principle, adhered to by the high level group, which developed a concept of the CIS further development and plan of main actions for its implementation, approved by the CIS leaders on the summit in Dushanbe (October, 2007). These are strategic documents. They are designed to adjust CIS to current conditions and raise the effectiveness of its activity.

The resolutions of the Dushanbe summit were positively accepted in the CIS states. This was confirmed by the CIS leaders in their speeches at the next informal meetings in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.

In order to raise CIS effectiveness, the economic interaction is now focused on innovation, construction of new economy, considering the still deep cooperation, development of advanced production and services, aimed to ensure the long-lasting competitive advantages for the CIS states.

On the whole, the economy of the CIS members is stable and dynamic and continues to be so. According to the Intergovernmental statistical committee of the CIS, the economic growth by results of 2007, made 9% in average (8% in 2006). The highest growth of GDP was observed in Azerbaijan, in particular. No decline in GDP was recorded in any of the countries. This is caused by the higher dynamics of the industrial production.

I would like to remind that the Commonwealth is developing in line with the priority trends, defined by the leaders of the CIS states. This is a deepening of economic interaction, provision of stability and security, enhanced partnership in the humanitarian sector.

There are unquestioned positive results on each of them and they are confirmed by the statistical data and intergovernmental programs, as well as significant list of important events. The movement based on key directions of integration encouraged the stable economic growth rates and process of formation of the free commercial area; coordinated and stable functioning of main transport means, communication and power supply; joint fight with crimes, as well as global challenges and threats in the security sector; formation of humanitarian area, including deepening of interaction in the sphere of education and health, partnership in the sphere of youth policy, culture, sports and information.

- Do you think all the CIS member-states have equal rights, where Moscow plays a leading part?

- CIS is an association of equal states. Certainly, Russia plays a significant role in this organization, due to its territory, population, economic and financial potential. At the same time, all decisions in the CIS are adopted only upon the agreement of all member-states of the Commonwealth. Any state has a right for a special opinion during discussion and signing of documents. Therefore, it would be incorrect to speak about domination of any state in the CIS. This is also proven by the practice of interaction and expansion of cooperation in the CIS framework.

/Day.Az/