OREANDA-NEWS. May 26, 2011. Belarus suggests stepping up and raising the effectiveness of cooperation between the CIS member states, particularly cooperation in humanitarian area and scientific and technical area. Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich made the statement at the session of the CIS Heads of Government Council in Minsk.

It is obvious that the Commonwealth and its executive committee have no supranational functions. The committee has no development budget while the Commonwealth of Independent States is recognized on the global scale as a platform of like-minded persons, said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

In his words, multiple useful joint decisions have been made within the CIS framework. More advanced integration structures and interstate associations have arisen out of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“We could undertake to submit country-specific proposals to the executive committee within 2-3 months to step up and raise the effectiveness of existing components of multilateral cooperation between the CIS member states, particularly in humanitarian sphere and scientific and technical sphere,” said the Prime Minister of Belarus.

Mikhail Myasnikovich said he was confident that over the 20 years of the Commonwealth’s existence the potential of expanding manufacturing cooperation, trade, and investments between the countries has not been exhausted. Belarus is ready to put efforts into this area.

Conditions of mutual trade between the CIS states should be unified with principles of the World Trade Organization, Prime Minister of Belarus said.

It is important to consistently unify conditions of mutual trade with WTO principles, ruling out unjustified protectionism, Mikhail Myasnikovich said. It is also important that four out of the eleven CIS countries are WTO members while others have plans to join WTO soon.

The Prime Minister of Belarus remarked that the CIS had played a unique role in preserving and developing cooperation between the countries. The CIS secures the basic format of friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between countries of Europe and Eurasia with a population of 250 million people, he stressed.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, the agenda of the session was well balanced: a third of the matters dealt with humanitarian affairs, a third dealt with innovations, and another third dealt with trade and economic matters. “We believe these basic components of the Commonwealth of Independent States will reinforce the foundation for business communications and fast decision making in the globalizing world,” said the Belarusian head of Government.

It is important to implement programs for innovation development till 2020, programs for creating the infrastructure for information and communication technologies, and the CIS nuclear program on principles of public private partnership. Innovations and high technologies offer a perspective, post-industrial development of the CIS states, which is a factor of the long-term competitive ability of the entire region, believes Mikhail Myasnikovich. He added that the CIS potential was far from being exhausted. Developing it together, the countries can reach a lot for the benefit of their nations.

All in all, at the 57th session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government, which took place in Minsk on 19 May, considered 19 issues.

The heads of governments of CIS was approved the draft plan of activities for the Year of Food Safety in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The document includes a list of the most important organizational and technical measures regarding the interaction between the CIS member states in improving food security. The document provides for measures to intensify cooperation in R&D. For example, the CIS member states are planning to develop and adopt measures for cooperation in emergencies that threaten food security, to prepare proposals for the establishment of a stabilization fund of food commodities.

Food safety issues and mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture occupy an important place in the economic policy of the Commonwealth. The CIS member states have been implementing a range of measures to enhance food security and the concept of improving food security in the CIS.

The meeting also approved a preliminary draft of the CIS Interstate Program of Innovation Cooperation for the period until 2020. The purpose of the program is to develop a mechanism to harmonize the national innovation systems, national legislation, to develop and implement state programs, innovative projects to create conditions for increasing the global competitiveness of the economies of the CIS countries in the new political and economic context.

The project incorporates innovative approaches to innovation policy such as technology platforms, centers of excellence, and also approaches to the interaction under the Seventh Framework Program of the European Union and similar activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

The preliminary draft of the program consists of five sub-programs, which suggest interstate cooperation in innovation, development of scientific and technological capabilities, staff training, innovation cooperation, joint use and development of innovation infrastructure, and interstate regulation of innovation activities. Each of these sub-programs is in fact an interstate targeted program.

The council heard out a report on the preparation of the interstate exhibition devoted to the 20th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The exhibition will run from 28 June to 3 July 2011 at the All-Russia Exhibition Center and will consist of two main blocks: the central section of the exhibition and national expositions of the CIS member states.

The heads of governments of CIS countries reviewed the information on the results of the plan of important measures aimed at developing and improving economic cooperation between the CIS member-states in 2003-2010. Implementation of the plan had a positive impact on the integration and improved the efficiency of interaction in the CIS. In 2003-2010 the mutual trade of CIS countries increased more than twofold. A series of important documents in the areas of fuel and energy, agribusiness and transport were adopted. Measures were developed to ensure fair competition and anti-monopoly policy in the CIS market, improve competitiveness of national producers. Out of 65 measures envisaged in the plan, 61 have been implemented.

The heads of government decided to establish an Advisory Council for the Protection of Consumer Rights and amend the agreement on the main areas of cooperation of states - members of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the field of consumer protection of 25 January 2000.

The CIS Council of the Heads of Government adopted a framework program for cooperation of the CIS member states in peaceful use of nuclear energy until 2020 “Cooperation “ATOM – CIS”. The program is aimed at promoting economic cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the CIS, searching for acceptable solutions to complex economic problems, creating real conditions for sustainable economic development of the CIS member states and promoting the effective development of nuclear energy. The plan of priority measures to implement the framework program provides for the development of joint projects on the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.

The meeting participants approved the draft agreement on information infrastructure of the CIS innovation activities via the apportioned information system and the CIS portal “Innovation activities of the CIS member states”.

The heads of government were proposed to consider and take decisions on the documents regulating CIS cooperation in the humanitarian sector: draft concepts on cultural cooperation and the CIS major cultural events through 2015.

The CIS heads of government approved draft concept on education in culture and art, draft agreement on setting up the CIS council on cooperation in fundamental science.

The issues of security included a draft agreement on the single register of citizens from third countries entering the CIS territory. The document has been sent for finalization.

The CIS heads of government considered and approved the list of events to counteract violations in the area of intellectual property in the implementation of the CIS economic development strategy till 2020.

As regards the formation of the common education space, the CIS heads of government decided to award all educational establishments and scientific centers the status of basic organizations.

The heads of government also approved the amendments to the provisions on three CIS bodies responsible for sectoral cooperation: the CIS Council for Youth Affairs, the Interstate Coordination center for Sci-Tech Information, the Coordination Council of the Heads of Tax Agencies.

The CIS heads of government discussed the issues regarding the free trade zone agreement. The meeting participants tasked the CIS Economic Council to finalize some parts of the document and present it at the next session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government which is due in St Petersburg in October 2011.

Belarus is completely satisfied with the results of the session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich told a press conference.

“Belarus is completely satisfied with the results of the session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government. It was a committed work of all eleven official delegations,” Mikhail Myasnikovich stressed.

Mikhail Myasnikovich pinpointed that at the session Belarus has put forward an initiative to enhance innovative cooperation between CIS countries. “The result is that today we have decided to launch an interstate program of innovative cooperation of CIS countries till 2020 this year,” he said. According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, this issue was considered not only declaratively by making a relevant decision but also with a concrete objective, i.e. along with necessary measures to develop innovative infrastructure.

Mikhail Myasnikovich paid special attention to the protection of intellectual property in the CIS. “The intellectual property becomes a real commodity in the context of the open economy. We need measures to develop cooperation in this area and operate it profitably,” Mikhail Myasnikovich concluded.

Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that innovation cooperation is a sort of CIS integration matrix that is more advanced than cooperation in trade and investments. “The Belarusian government believes that the CIS states should integrate themselves into the post-crisis global economy by uniting their innovative potential. We should create huge research and production corporations and implement large-scale projects in the long run,” said the Belarusian PM.

He added that each country of the CIS has been largely trading in homemade goods. “At the same time we should create transnational corporations to produce goods that are in demand on a global level. The main task of the national governments is to create favorable environment for these projects,” summarized Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Mikhail Myasnikovich also said that the CIS countries will continue working on the free trade zone treaty. The meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government failed to reach a final decision on the document. Certain difficulties aroused.

According to the Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev, in the course of the discussion it was suggested that these difficulties are solvable and compromises are possible in the future. Some options to overcome difficulties were also suggested. "But none of the heads of delegations denied the importance of this treaty and the necessity of its signing,” he said. After all, the most important condition is that this document should improve the situation in foreign trade between the CIS countries.

In turn, Mikhail Myasnikovich said that the instructions that were given during the meeting (to reconcile the positions of the CIS countries on this issue in order to sign the agreement in the third quarter) are right, because in 2012 the countries should have clear budgets, social and economic development forecasts, complete clarity about the tariff policy, duties, etc.

“It should be understood that a free trade area implies that those countries who have not signed the treaty yet will join it on those basic principles, which are incorporated in this document,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

He also added that the mechanisms to support local producers, the creation of a favorable trade regime also mean that the counties will have to get rid from unjustified protectionism and that the terms of trade within the CIS will be brought closer to the WTO requirements.

A free trade zone inside the Commonwealth of Independent States should not worsen relations inside the Customs Union, Prime Minister of Belarus told.

The Customs Union of Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan has an agreed customs policy. There are rules to use in regard to third-party states, including the Commonwealth, said Mikhail Myasnikovich. “If we are talking about a free trade zone, we should take into account that it should not worsen mutual relations inside the Customs Union and the evolving Single Economic Space”.

Mikhail Myasnikovich added that many CIS states have bilateral agreements with clauses that drastically differ from common trade rules. Those are quite sensitive issues for some third countries. “This is why while working on the free trade zone treaty it is necessary not to put a squeeze on budgets of some countries in relation to third-party states,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. “For instance, the Customs Union requires to bring Belarusian-Ukrainian relations into conformance to avoid an inflow of commodities from Ukraine to the Customs Union. Everything should be balanced”.

Mikhail Myasnikovich also said that the CIS member states are set to carry out a joint program in the peaceful uses of atomic power “Cooperation ATOM CIS”.

According to the Belarusian head of Government, the new program is a meaningful contribution of the CIS participating states to nuclear safety.

Mikhail Myasnikovich reminded that Belarus plans to develop nuclear power industry. “We have upheld an initiative of the Russian Federation on introducing additional safety requirements in this field and formalizing them in the IAEA documents. The Belarusian project will be implemented under the supervision of this respectful international organization,” the Belarusian Prime Minister said.

The program “Cooperation ATOM CIS” is set to run until 2020. It is based on the interaction principles of the CIS member states in the peaceful development of atomic energy. The principles envisage the evaluation of potential capacities of the peaceful atomic energy as an alternative energy source of the common energy consumption system of the CIS, creation of single conditions of safe operation of the nuclear power plant, development of uranium ores, and utilization of radioactive waste.

The major mechanism of implementing the program is efficient coordination of concerted effort of the CIS member states and organizations in the field.

Belarus has taken a crucial decision to construct a nuclear power plant with the help of Russian partners. The major challenge is to guarantee 100% safety of the future nuclear power plant. As Belarus has just started developing its own nuclear energy industry, the country deems it necessary to establish cooperation with renowned world industry leaders, including Russia. The joint implementation of the measures stipulated in the program will contribute to enhancing nuclear safety and the industry’s successful development in the CIS member states.

Belarus Prime Minister also said that Belarus hopes to get over USD 3 billion in loans from the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund in the next three years.

“All the terms have been agreed upon, approaches identified, the amount determined. We have agreed with Russia to discuss the possibility of providing a USD 3 billion loan to Belarus through the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund, or maybe even USD 3.5, within the next three years,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Speaking about the terms of this credit support, the Prime Minister noted that funds will not be given on a gratuitous basis, but under certain interest rate, although it will be below the commercial one.

Mikhail Myasnikovich also noted that the relevant agreement on the loan is secured in the so-called matrix, which defines what specific moves Belarus will take in the domestic economy in order to effectively dispose of the borrowed funds.

“But I want to emphasize: the main reserves are here, in the domestic economy, and no loans will solve the problem. When it comes to borrowing the funds from the EurAsEC Anti-Crisis Fund, this move is meant to solve the problems quickly. In the future we are set to work on the script, which would help us ensure balanced operation of the internal market and socio-economic development,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.