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Russia prioritises CIS integration processes – Putin.

Russian will exert effort to expand cooperation with Belarus within the Union of State, the decree says

MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) — President Vladimir Putin said the development of integration processes on the CIS space is a priority task of Russia’s foreign policy.

In a decree, “On Measures to Implement Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation”, Putin said Russia would consistently pursue a policy towards further development of multifaceted cooperation with CIS countries in the social, economic, humanitarian, law enforcement and other fields.

The parties will continue the work to realize the agreement on the free trade zone of October 18, 2011. Russian will exert effort to expand cooperation with Belarus within the Union of State, the decree says.

It stresses the need “to facilitate the strengthening of Eurasian integration within the Customs Union and the common economic space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. It is necessary to create the Eurasian economic union by January 1, 2015 due to the openness of these processes and allow other states of the Eurasian Economic Community and the Commonwealth of Independent States to join it”.

The decree points to strengthening of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and improving the mechanisms in order to respond to present-day challenges and threats and its peace-making potential.

Russia will continue the work to search for ways to solve the Transdniester problem on the basis of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the neutral status of the Republic of Moldova by determining a special status of Transdniester, the decree says.

Russia will continue efforts on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through interaction with other member-states of the OSCE Minsk Group and in compliance with the principles recorded in the joint statements of the Russian, U.S. and French presidents of 2009-2011, the decree says.

It adds, “Russia will contribute to developing the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia as democratic states, strengthening international positions, ensuring reliable security and facilitating the social and economic restoration of these republics.”