CIS in the International Arena

At a February 27 St. Petersburg briefing, CIS Executive Secretary Yuri Yarov pointed out the need to intensify efforts “to redouble and coordinate CIS efforts on the international arena.” Noting that “steps in this direction are still very cautious,” he also announced the formation of “a mechanism to hold foreign ministerial hearings within the CIS framework aimed at working out a unified position on certain problems of world policy.” Mr. Yarov thinks the Commonwealth’s main objective is to overcome the consequences of ethnic conflicts on the territory of member states where CIS peacekeeping forces are stationed in Transnistria, Karabakh, and Abkhaziya. Speaking about other directions of cooperation, the executive secretary noted that establishment of a free trade area, which would “fully embrace all our countries,” is “the foundation of the economic Commonwealth.” He called stricter control of international terrorism a “new problem” for the CIS. In addition, Mr. Yarov admitted that “for many, the results of our joint efforts at integration are not very visible and palpable.” However, he is convinced that “the principle ‘we planted and then dug up because we’re hungry’ is out of place here.”