OREANDA-NEWS. February 02, 2011. The CIS member states need ambitious integration projects, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev.

 “If we say that the CIS is the center of political and economic power, we need powerful integration projects,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

In his words, the entire world is moving towards globalization now, and we need to follow suit. Mikhail Myasnikovich was sorry to state that “we have set up alternative production facilities and failed to reconcile our positions on the markets of third states which created unsound competition.”

The Belarusian head of Government emphasized that all the integration structures are equally important for Belarus – be it the Union State, the Customs Union, the single economic space or the CIS. “All integration projects are equally significant to us. But the integration pace and depth are different,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said. He voiced support for the harmonious development of all integration processes in the CIS.

According to the Belarusian Prime Minister, economic centers that emerge within two or three-party integration structures will draw other CIS member states. “We need economic projects involving not only the CIS participating states, but also third countries,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

Addressing Sergei Lebedev, he reaffirmed Belarus’ commitment to all the initiatives and integration efforts in the CIS. “I am glad that our positions coincide. I would like to see closer political and economic contacts between us,” the Belarusian Premier said.

In turn, the CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said that the signing of a new agreement on free trade zone will dominate the agenda of a session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government that will take place in Minsk on 20 May.

“The CIS Executive Committee has started preparing for the session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government that is set to be held in Minsk on 20 May,” Sergei Lebedev said. In his words, the agenda is “serious and packed”. “The session will focus on the discussion and I hope conclusion of a new agreement on free trade zone,” the CIS Executive Secretary said. The preparation of the draft agreement is nearing completion. The CIS Economic Council that will take place in Yalta on 15 April is to approve the draft agreement and submit it to the heads of government.

Another most important point of the agenda of the forthcoming session will be the draft program of the innovation cooperation in the CIS set to run until 2020.

Belarus is a driving force behind many CIS projects, CIS Executive Secretary said.

According to Sergei Lebedev, the President of Belarus always supported the CIS Executive Committee. “Without this support the CIS headquarters in Minsk would be unable to perform comprehensive tasks it has been vested with,” Sergei Lebedev stressed. He praised Belarus for its active role in integration projects in economy, security, etc. In particular, Sergei Lebedev expressed gratitude to Belarus for its active engagement in humanitarian cooperation. Thus, in 2010 the country initiated the strategy of the CIS international cooperation between young people. A lot of events were and are held in Belarus. Moreover, the country implements a number of sport and cultural projects.

“The CIS Executive Committee is grateful for the active participation of Belarus in integration processes. We are aware that you advocate strengthening the CIS integration. We are also convinced that your support will promote this cooperation,” Sergei Lebedev said addressing Belarus’ Prime Minister.