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Colleagues,

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I also want to congratulate Mr Lukashenko on his victory 

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in the [Belarusian] presidential election,

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and Mr Atambayev on successfully holding a parliamentary 

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election in Kyrgyzstan.

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The elections in both countries were in full compliance with 

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international democratic standards,

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and this has unquestionably helped to bolster political 

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stability in the CIS region.

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Developing close and multifaceted cooperation within the CIS remains 

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Russia’s unchanging foreign policy priority.

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The CIS will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year.

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Over this time, it has proven its worth as an influential organisation 

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bringing together the countries in the post-Soviet region.

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I want to add my voice to what President of Uzbekistan Mr 

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Karimov said before. The CIS has built up rich experience 

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of cooperation in the broadest range of areas.

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The organisation has traditionally paid particular 

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attention to resolving socioeconomic issues.

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Today, a number of negative external factors are creating 

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challenges for our countries.

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On our way here to this hall, I was talking with some of my colleagues,

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including the President of Azerbaijan,

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about the drop in price for some of our main export goods,

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the uncertainty in the global economy,

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and the growing political tension in many parts of the world.

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All of these factors are slowing down economic activity in our region.

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The CIS countries’ combined total GDP fell over the first half of 2015,

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as did investment in fixed capital.

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Trade turnover between our countries has also decreased.

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This situation requires us to take measures to reduce our national 

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economies’ dependence on foreign markets,

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and look at what we can do to stimulate business ties 

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within the CIS itself.

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I am referring above all to the CIS free trade agreement 

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that was signed in 2011.

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We must develop this agreement’s full potential and simplify as much 

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as possible the movement of goods and investment flows.

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We also need to make greater use of national currencies 

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in our mutual settlements.

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Colleagues, Russia is completing ratification of the agreement 

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on the CIS integrated currency market.

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I remind you that Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,

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Russia and Tajikistan signed this agreement in Ashgabat in December 

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2012. Its entry into force will make it possible for us to carry out 

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a coordinated currency policy and eventually perhaps 

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establish a common CIS financial market.

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Coordinating our foreign policy efforts is another 

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important area of work.

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Our basic position is that all of the CIS countries recognise the UN’s 

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central role in resolving international problems 

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and ensuring global security.

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This view is reflected in the draft statement on the UN’s 70th 

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anniversary that we are set to approve today.

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The growing threat from international terrorism was one of the key 

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subjects during the general political discussions at the recent UN 

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General Assembly session in New York.

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Today the main front in the fight against this evil is 

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in the Middle East.

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Russia has warned repeatedly about the danger of growing radical forces 

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in the region and has worked consistently at all levels to unite 

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the international community’s efforts to combat these extremist groups.

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In this respect, we considered it our duty to take concrete action 

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in the fight against the Islamic State and other radical 

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groups on Syrian territory.

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Let me note that Russia’s Aerospace Defence Forces and the Caspian 

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Flotilla are operating in full compliance with international law.

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Our actions are completely legitimate because we are acting 

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on the basis of an official request from President Assad.

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We have a strictly limited mission and are using our aviation and other 

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means solely against terrorist groups.

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Our operation is limited in time too to the Syrian army’s 

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offensive against the terrorists.

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From air and sea, we have been striking targets agreed in advance with 

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the Syrian forces, and our service personnel have achieved 

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some impressive results.

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We have destroyed dozens of command posts and ammunition depots,

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hundreds of terrorists and a large amount of military hardware.

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At the same time, we remain committed to establishing as broad 

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a coalition as possible to act against the extremists and terrorists.

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We are making efforts to organise practical cooperation with the main 

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regional and international partners.

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As a first step, we call on all interested countries to join 

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in the work of the information centre in Baghdad.

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There has been some progress in coordinating action and efforts 

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to fight terrorism in this region.

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We have established working contacts with the Middle East countries.

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We are currently in talks with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,

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Egypt, Jordan, Israel and other countries,

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and are trying to organise cooperation with the United 

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States and Turkey.

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Let me stress the increasing importance of cooperation between the CIS 

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members too in fighting international terrorism.

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Various estimates put the number of people from Russia and other CIS 

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countries fighting on the side of the Islamic State at 5,000–

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7,000. Of course we must act to make sure that these people do not put 

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the experience they have acquired in Syria to use here at home later.

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We need to ensure the CIS Antiterrorist Centre’s effective operation 

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and continue coordinating the work of our intelligence services 

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and keep up a constant exchange of information.

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It is especially important to monitor closely the situation on the CIS’ 

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external borders, and in this respect,

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I agree with the President of Uzbekistan,

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who expressed his concern over the situation taking shape 

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in Afghanistan.

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The situation there really is close to critical.

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Terrorists of all kinds are gaining influence and do not hide their 

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plans for further expansion.

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One of their goals is to break through into the Central Asian region.

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It is important that we be ready for coordinated action 

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to respond to any such attempts.

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In this context, I would like to note the importance of the CIS member 

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countries’ military cooperation concept through to 2020,

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which we will approve today.

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Also before us today is the 2016–

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2020 programme for CIS cooperation on strengthening border security,

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and this too will help us to build up reliable defences 

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on our external frontiers.

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Part of this programme involves establishing groups of border guards 

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and personnel from other agencies in the CIS countries to deal with 

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crisis situations on the border.

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I am sure that these documents will substantially boost the results 

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of our common efforts to fight cross-border crime and drug trafficking.

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Building up our humanitarian cooperation is another of our 

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traditional priorities.

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I think the Cultural Capitals of the Commonwealth programme is 

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a project that stands out in this area.

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It helps to better acquaint us with the traditions of our countries’ 

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peoples and fosters tourism growth.

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This year, Kulob in Tajikistan and Voronezh in Russia are 

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the CIS cultural capitals.

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We support the nomination of Dasoguz in Turkmenistan as CIS 

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cultural capital for 2016.

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The practise of organising CIS thematic years has produced good 

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results. This year was Veterans’ Year, of course,

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given the 70th anniversary of Victory.

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We have agreed to make 2016 the Year of Education.

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The busy programme for the year will bring our educational standards 

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closer together and encourage academic mobility.

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We already have quite active student exchanges.

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More than 225,000 citizens from CIS countries studied in Russian 

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universities in 2014–2015, and around 75,

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000 of them had their studies paid for by Russia’s federal budget.

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We will continue to work on expanding contacts in this area.

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I think that if we declare 2017 the Year of the Family,

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this would also help to bolster humanitarian ties within the CIS.

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I hope you will support this initiative.

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In conclusion, I want to note Kazakhstan’s successful 

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Presidency of the CIS.

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Thanks to our Kazakhstani friends’ efforts,

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we have made progress in a number of important areas.

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In 2016, the CIS Presidency will go to our colleagues from Kyrgyzstan,

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and we wish you every success in this work.

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Thank you very much for your attention.

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