Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 21 / Trend D. Azizov /
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) played an important role in the history in removing the obsolete system, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of States on Tuesday, the Uzbek National News Agency (UzA) reported.
Uzbekistan acted for the commonwealth to be a reliable platform for new multilateral cooperation, the president said.
President Karimov stressed that the Commonwealth is a union of sovereign states, equally interested to create a strong platform for multilateral cooperation in the interest and benefit of their peoples.
President Karimov stressed that the Commonwealth has done a lot for 20 years of its activity.
"It is hard to imagine what we could have in a post-Soviet space without the CIS participation in developing the cooperation in many vital areas, including further development of trade and economic relations, communication and transport ties, security and humanitarian issues," Islam Karimov said.
"The Uzbek side is confident that, despite the parallel integration processes, the CIS has future," he said. "The Commonwealth can and must play a coordinating role of general multi-faceted cooperation and be a platform or forum for direct communication and maintaining regular intergovernmental dialogue, including bilateral meetings in the format of the CIS and at the level of countries and relevant organizations."
He stressed that new integration initiatives and proposals are put forward in the post-Soviet sphere. There are processes of forming various interstate organizations and unions. Uzbekistan will determine its approach and policy on this issue on the basis of long-term national interests, based on the ongoing priorities of the country's modernization and in accordance with the national legislation and international obligations.