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Kaliningrad region hosts CBSS ministerial session

Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

KALININGRAD, June 6 (Itar-Tass) - The 18th ministerial session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) will be held on Thursday in the town of Pionersky, in Russia’s enclave Kaliningrad region.

Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The session is aimed at “strengthening the Council as a coordinator in the development of intergovernmental cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, launching the organization’s project activity, including that in public-private partnership, and giving a fresh impetus to new innovative areas of cooperation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.

Delegates to the session will sum up the results of Russia’s presidency of the organization that expires in June 2013 and will set tasks for the upcoming period within the framework of long-term priorities.

“This concerns economic development, energy, environmental protection, education and culture, civil security and human dimension,” Lukashevich said.

The Council brings together the foreign ministers of Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Estonia and a representative of the European Union.

Belarus, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, the United States, Ukraine and France have an observer status in the organizations. Belarus and France have applied for full membership in the Council.

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