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CIS foreign ministers to meet in Minsk

They discuss key issues regulating interstate cooperation in the humanitarian, security and other areas

MINSK, October 9. /TASS/. The Foreign Minister Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States will meet in the Belarusian capital on Thursday to discuss key issues regulating interstate cooperation in the humanitarian, security and other areas, the press service of the CIS Executive Committee said. The meeting will be chaired by Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei. It will take place in the National Library.

The ministers will discuss a number of documents that will be submitted to the Head of State Council, which will meet in Minsk on October 10, the press service said.

The annual summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States and a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will also take place in Minsk on October 10.

CIS leaders at the summit will discuss developing multilateral economic, humanitarian and law-enforcement cooperation and sign a number of agreements, decisions and a statement on strengthening the international system of control over drugs, the Kremlin press service said earlier. The Russian president will participate in the meetings.

The leaders are also expected to sign a statement addressed to CIS nations and the world community in connection with the forthcoming 70th anniversary of the Victory in World War II.

The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will discuss current issues of trade in goods and services, movement of capitals and labour forces and financial, organizational and technical aspects in connection with the beginning of the functioning of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) from January 1, 2015, the Kremlin said.

The treaty on the EEU signed on May 29, 2014 is undergoing ratification procedures in the Belarusian and Kazakh parliaments. Russia already ratified it earlier in October.

The leaders of all the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, but Ukraine, have confirmed their participation in the head of state meeting in Minsk on October 10, a CIS executive committee source told reporters on Wednesday.

Ukraine has not yet filed an official request for secession from the CIS, the source said.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said earlier that the Ukrainian delegation for the CIS foreign minister meeting would be headed by Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus Mikhail Yezhel.

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