BISHKEK, September 16. /TASS/. Azerbaijan supports initiatives aimed at optimization of the activities of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said on Friday.

"We support initiatives aiming to optimize our work so that we could focus on the most pressing issues of mutual interest," he said at a narrow-format meeting of the CIS leaders. "Azerbaijan attaches greater significance to its membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States."

"I believe that over the 25 years of its existence the organization has traveled a long way. It has stood the test of time. Our organization was established following certain historical events and I think the wisdom of our nations and leaders has led to the fact that in a span of 25 years we have an organization which has major importance for both the region and the world," Aliyev underscored.

The Commonwealth, in his words, is following the path "of reasonable reforms." "Reforms should not be carried out for their own sake, they should have a clear goal to strengthen our organization, to make it more attractive and more viable," he added.

Touching on security aspects, the Azerbaijani leader stressed that it is necessary to be ready to confront growing global threats. "We a living in a time of growing threats. And we must be ready for them. As the recent history has taught us, not a single country can cope with these threats, with international terrorism, extremism and radicalism alone," he said.