Russia, Ukraine, Belarus establish Commonwealth of Independent States
This news story first came out 30 years ago to the day, and we are publishing it today as part of Interfax's project, "Timeline of the Last Days of USSR. This Day 30 Years Ago." The project's goal is to reconstruct as fully as possible the timeline of the last few months of 1991 and to give everyone interested in understanding the historical processes of that period the opportunity to study and analyze the events that led to and accompanied the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the new Russian state. The complete timeline can be found in Russian.
DECLARATION by the Heads of State of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and Ukraine dated December 8, 1991
- WE, the leaders of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and Ukraine,
- - NOTING that the negotiations on the preparation of a new union treaty are at an impasse that the objective process of the withdrawal of republics from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and establishment of independent states is a now a reality,
- - STATING that the shortsighted policy of the center has led to deep economic and political crisis, the collapse of production and catastrophic decline of living standards of almost all social groups,
- - TAKING into consideration growing social tensions in many regions of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which has resulted in ethnic conflicts with numerous human casualties,
- - and RECOGNIZING our responsibility before our peoples and international community and the pressing need for the practical implementation of political and economic reforms,
DECLARE that the Commonwealth of Independent States is established, about which the parties signed an agreement on December 8, 1991.
The Commonwealth of Independent States of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and Ukraine is open to all member states of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as well as other states that share the goals and principles of this agreement.
Member states of the Commonwealth intend to pursue a policy of strengthening international peace and security. They guarantee the implementation of international obligations stemming from treaties and agreements of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and ensure common control over nuclear weapons and their non-proliferation.
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus Stanislav Shushkevich
President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Boris Yeltsin
President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk