OREANDA-NEWS. December 13, 2010. Summit participants discussed the outcomes of Russia’s presidency of the Commonwealth and identified priorities for the upcoming year.

In his speech, Dmitry Medvedev noted that based on this year’s work, it has become possible to form a full-fledged CIS free trade zone that meets WTO requirements. Its goal is to ensure comfortable conditions and equal access to goods from nations that are parties to the Agreement. The President of Russia announced that the draft agreement on forming such a zone will be finalised by the end of December.

Dmitry Medvedev also stated that humanitarian cooperation had been successful, giving examples such as the events marking the 65th anniversary of Victory in World War II, which were held in every CIS nation. Mr Medvedev noted that cultural and humanitarian ties are among the most valuable, uniting aspects of international relations. Following the summit, a humanitarian cooperation plan was adopted for the next two years.

The year 2010 was devoted to science and innovation within the framework of the Council of CIS Heads of State. At this time, a council is being created on cooperation in fundamental sciences and a programme is being developed for innovative cooperation between CIS member states until 2020. The President of Russia expressed certainty that joint projects in this sector will help improve the competitiveness of CIS economy.

The meeting participants included President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic during the transition period Roza Otunbayeva, Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Minister of Moldova Valeriu Lazar, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Vice-President of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Nazarkuli Shakuliev, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, and Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev.

The next meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State will be held in September 2011 in Dushanbe.

Following the summit, Dmitry Medvedev met with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and President of the Kyrgyz Republic during the transition period Roza Otunbayeva.