A new format of cooperation – the “Commonwealth of Independent States Plus” – has been established in the CIS. The decision was adopted at the meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council on October 10 in Dushanbe.
This format was initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The “Commonwealth of Independent States Plus” format will serve as a platform for cooperation between the CIS countries and other states, their associations, and international organizations interested in establishing interaction with the Commonwealth in areas of mutual interest.
The decision defines the procedure for the participation of interested parties in events held under the auspices of the Commonwealth, and the consideration of requests to establish cooperation in areas of interest.
In particular, the CIS presiding state, in interaction with the CIS Executive Committee and in the absence of objections from the Commonwealth countries, invites interested states, their associations, and international organizations to events held under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Independent States and to meetings of the CIS's highest bodies that are not of a closed to the public, and agrees on the format of their participation.
The CIS Heads of State Council instructed the CIS Executive Committee to inform the United Nations Secretariat and the executive bodies of other relevant international organizations about the establishment of the “Commonwealth of Independent States Plus” format.