AWAZA, 9 October (BelTA) – Speaking at the CIS Heads of State Council meeting in Turkmenistan on 9 October, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko reflected on the 35-year journey of the Commonwealth of Independent States, noting that it was initially founded under challenging conditions, BelTA has learned.
“Looking back at the past, you remember how challenging the conditions were when our Commonwealth [of Independent States] was created. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, external forces openly sought to manipulate the young states. Unfortunately, such a policy continues today. Our organization was vilified in every possible way, labeled a ‘geopolitical phantom’ and a ‘myth.’ It was predicted to survive for barely a couple of months, with no possibility of integration among our countries even considered,” the head of state noted. “At this point, I would like to say that our opponents made a strategic miscalculation. The reality turned out to be much more complex.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that several countries had indeed used the CIS as a tool for a more or less civilized “divorce.”
Moldova is set to de jure exit the CIS in April 2027. “This is, of course, not the choice of ordinary Moldovans, but a decision by the leadership. A short-sighted one, I believe. Moreover, the leadership itself understands this and is trying to maintain its participation in the Free Trade Agreement,” the head of state noted.
In this regard, he urged Moldova’s leadership to preserve opportunities for the country’s ordinary citizens to maintain interaction channels, at least at the initial stage. “Simply put, why lose what we already have?” he said.
“History always repeats itself. We already have the experience of Georgia leaving the CIS, but today we see how the situation is changing. It is obvious that returning to normal relations is easier via the well-established tracks of the CIS mechanisms. Moreover, launching more serious formats for deepening cooperation is simpler if you have the basis of our CIS,” the Belarusian leader stated.