DUSHANBE, October 24, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today morning left for Minsk, Belarus to attend sessions of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council and the CIS Council of Heads of State, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, State Advisor to the President for Foreign Policy Erkin Rahmatulloyev, and Economic Development and Trade Minister Sharif Rahimzoda are accompanying the president on his trip to Minsk.
While in Minsk, President Emomali Rahmon will also attend an official ceremony of opening of Tajik Embassy in Minsk.
The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is the key body of the Customs Union (CU) and the Common Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. According to Russian media sources, the main topic of the meeting between the leaders of the three countries, scheduled for October 24, will the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015. A possible increase in the number of integration associations will be on the agenda.
Itar-Tass reports that Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters leaders of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine will take part in discussion.
The Minsk summit of the Eurasian Economic Council will be the second within the “troika” format this year. The first took place in Astana on May 29. “If an accord is reached, the third will take place in Russia,” Ushakov said.
Meanwhile, the CIS Executive Committee press center says the CIS summit is expected to consider 17 draft documents regulating cooperation between the CIS member nations in different spheres.
The CIS summit participants plan to discuss interaction in the economic, humanitarian and law-enforcement areas. The leaders are to pass a decision announcing 2014 a year of tourism in the CIS, and 2015 a year of World War II veterans, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory. Also, the CIS leaders will consider a uniform jubilee medal on the occasion of this memorable date.
As for interaction between law-enforcement bodies, Russia prepared an agreement on establishing an inter-state council for combating corruption, which would have coordinating functions. The participants are expected to approve several programs of cooperation in fighting crime, terrorism, and weapon and human trafficking.
