Ukraine assumes CIS presidency

KYIV, January 2 /Ukrinform/. Ukraine on January 1, 2014 assumed the presidency of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Ukrinform has reported.

President Viktor Yanukovych said earlier that Ukraine, as part of its CIS chairmanship, would make every effort to implement the principles of economic cooperation that would meet the interests of all CIS members.

According to the president, the issue concerns the creation of the conditions for strengthening trade in goods and services, the development of an effective mechanism for resolving disputable issues, and the removal of barriers in mutual trade.

"In particular, a priority during our chairmanship of the CIS will be preparations for the signing of agreements on transit through pipeline transport, trade in services, and a protocol on the gradual cancellation of export duties," he said during the sixth meeting of the Ukrainian-Russian interstate commission, which was held in Moscow on December 17, 2013.

Earlier, at a CIS summit in Minsk on October 25, 2013, the Ukrainian president announced the plans of the Ukrainian presidency to hold an innovation forum of the CIS countries, an international conference of small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as a number of meetings on interstate cooperation.

In addition, Yanukovych proposed holding a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Kyiv in October 2014, dedicating it to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Ukraine's liberation from Nazi occupation.

As reported, Ukraine in May 2012 asked to postpone its chairmanship of the CIS from 2013 until 2014 due to the fact that in 2013 it presided at the OSCE. Therefore, last year this mission was assumed by Belarus.

ap