Lukashenko calls for adapting of CIS to modern realities
MINSK. April 21 (Interfax) - The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) should be adapted to modern realities, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said.
"Unfortunately, unlike in the EEU [the Eurasian Economic Union], although there are enough problems there as well, and in the union project with Russia, where we also have a lot of problems, the processes ongoing in the CIS are even more negative," Lukashenko said in an annual address to the nation and the National Assembly on Thursday.
The number of CIS member-states has lowered, and relations between some countries have worsened, which is seen from the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Lukashenko said.
"There have been proposals that the CIS be liquidated. Belarus believes it should be preserved as an international organization. As we understand it, the CIS's modernization implies that it should be made stronger and more appealing to its member-states and adapted to new realities," he said.