Putin is taking part in an informal CIS summit. The main thing

On December 22, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin participates in an informal summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The meeting is taking place in St. Petersburg. The main statements of the head of state are in the material of Izvestia.

About the association

Vladimir Putin said during the informal CIS summit that for more than three decades the organization has established itself as an authoritative association in which the participating countries build relations based on the principles of genuine good-neighborliness, equal partnership, mutual benefit, respect and consideration for each other's interests.

On economic cooperation

The Russian President noted that cooperation between the CIS countries in the monetary and financial sphere is expanding. He also pointed out that import substitution processes are proceeding rapidly, which strengthens the technological sovereignty of the member states.

Vladimir Putin added that the share of national currencies in settlements for commercial transactions between the CIS countries already exceeds 96%.

Vladimir Putin drew attention to the successful multifaceted development of the CIS countries, as evidenced by "the solid volume of trade turnover between Russia and the commonwealth members, which amounted to almost $90 billion in the first 10 months of this year."

"The cooperation of the CIS countries in the monetary and financial sphere is expanding. Our own payment instruments, independent of foreign banking systems, are increasingly being used to service mutual economic transactions," the president added.

On cooperation in other fields

The Russian President also pointed to cooperation between the two countries in various fields: "With the participation of entrepreneurs from the CIS countries, major industrial and infrastructure projects are being implemented, new Eurasian production and transport chains are being formed, and the North-South and East-West transcontinental logistics corridors are being modernized and equipped.

"On the whole, I am convinced that building up partnership within the CIS in various fields meets the fundamental interests of the peoples of our countries," Vladimir Putin said.

"It is equally significant that the Commonwealth states cooperate in preserving a single cultural and humanitarian space and expanding multi-format exchanges between citizens. Indeed, our peoples are connected by many things: a deep interweaving of traditions and cultures, commitment to common moral and spiritual values, close kinship and family ties," the Russian president stressed.

Vladimir Putin also focused on the fight against terrorism within the framework of the Commonwealth.

"The fight against terrorism and extremism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and corruption has been and remains an important area of cooperation between the Commonwealth states. To this end, close operational contacts have been established between law enforcement agencies and competent authorities. An anti—terrorist action program is being implemented until 2028 and a plan to protect the external borders of the CIS countries until 2030," the Russian president said.

About the world order

The Russian leader noted that the CIS countries advocate the formation of a just world order based on universally recognized principles of international law with the central role of the United Nations. He also pointed out the importance of the fact that the approaches of the Commonwealth countries to key regional and global issues are similar.

On the preservation of historical memory

During the summit, Vladimir Putin called on the CIS countries to continue their joint efforts to preserve the memory of their common history and prevent attempts to falsify it. He also added that everything must be done to make young people aware of the heroic deeds of their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, who won the Great Patriotic War at the cost of countless sacrifices.

The Russian President also spoke about plans to publish a collection of archival materials on the contribution of each CIS country to the defeat of Nazism.

"In this context, I would like to draw your attention to the Russian initiative to publish a collection of unique archival materials dedicated to the contribution of each of the Union republics to the defeat of Nazism and containing digitized copies of unpublished documents and photographs," Vladimir Putin said.