Interview by Maria Sidelnikova, exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
22 years have passed since the moment of signing the Belavezha Accords by the heads of the RSFSR, Belarus, and Ukraine, which was the end of the USSR and the beginning of the CIS. The Commonwealth was declared to be “an instrument of a civilized divorce.” It lost one member and paled into insignificance in the mass media, when Russia began to develop Eurasian integration. However, Sergey Lebedev, Secretary Executive of the Commonwealth of Independent States, told Vestnik Kavkaza that the Commonwealth had huge potential.
“We all strive for maintenance and improvement of friendship, economic relations, cultural ties. Heads of the CIS countries met in Minsk in October, where the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia and almost all the CIS countries were present. I am glad to say that all the presidents spoke about the preservation of the CIS. The Commonwealth of Independent States is a structure which is necessary for settlement of economic problems, for improvement of our security, for further development of culture, education, sports, contacts between youth structures, universities,” Lebedev stated.
He said that the same views were also heard at a session of the Council of Prime Ministers in St. Petersburg: “Heads of governments of all republics of the CIS were present, including the Caucasus republics. 31 agreements were signed in various spheres, which were aimed at further improvement of our cooperation. For example, a draft of the cooperation strategy in the sphere of tourism between the CIS courtiers; a schedule of arrangements devoted to the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War in 2015. It was our common victory. Today we have the Coordination Council of Veterans of the CIS, which has recently held a session in Moscow. And representatives of all countries of the Commonwealth, including the Caucasus, were present there. There were representatives of veteran organizations from Azerbaijan, Armenia and even Georgia, which is very important for us.”
Lebedev is happy with “the statements made by the new leadership of Georgia – the President and Premier – that the current Georgian authorities intend to normalize relations with Russia, build them in a good-neighborly atmosphere and try to solve the problems which worsen the situation in the Caucasus and relations with Russia. I am the chairman of the Executive Committee of the CIS and I would like to repeat again that the CIS doors are open to Georgia. Recently it was confirmed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. He is supported by President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich. In St. Petersburg Premier of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich spoke about Georgia in the CIS.”
Lebedev hopes that “the good-neighborly traditions which are typical of the Caucasus will reign, and the problems which worsen relations between neighbors in the Caucasus will be settled sometime. As soon as possible. It is in interests of the Caucasus nations and the whole Commonwealth.”
The CIS Secretary Executive touched on the role of a person in the post-Soviet history: “I have many times visited the Caucasus republics. I always admire the beauty of the republics, the great talent of the Caucasus people, the great history of the Caucasus people. I met many leaders of the Caucasus republics – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia. And of course the meetings with the Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev are unforgettable. I met him in Baku. He welcomed me in the Presidential Administration of the Azerbaijani Republic. It was a constructive dialogue. Moreover, when he visited Moscow, I met him here. He was a wise man with a rich life and professional experience. He managed to stop the civil war in Azerbaijan. He managed to stabilize the situation in the Azerbaijani Republic. And I understand the honors given to this leader, the deep respect which the modern population of Azerbaijan feels for him.”
