MOSCOW, April 10. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Minsk on April 12, where he will chair the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"On April 12, the first meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers this year will be held in Minsk under the chairmanship of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov," the diplomat said.

She explained that the foreign ministers will exchange views on topical international and regional issues, discuss the main areas of work, primarily in the Commonwealth format, with an emphasis on implementing the priorities of Russia's presidency in the organization in 2024. "Special attention is expected to be paid to increasing cooperation in the field of security in the CIS region, joint counteraction to traditional and new challenges and threats," Zakharova said. "As well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including in the context of preparations for the year of the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War in the CIS in 2025."

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman noted that the ministers will also summarize the results of the implementation in 2023 of the plan of multi-level inter-ministerial consultations within the framework of the CIS and the action program to enhance partnership between the foreign ministries of the Commonwealth member states.

"And as part of strengthening foreign policy coordination, it is planned to adopt a number of joint statements. Some of the documents approved following the meetings will be submitted for subsequent approval by the heads of the CIS states," she stated.