Moscow. May 27. INTERFAX - The share of national currencies in settlements between the CIS countries has reached 90%, said Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexei Shevtsov. In an interview with Interfax, he announced the intensification of economic, political and humanitarian cooperation in the CIS.
The Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council spoke about cooperation with the CIS countries on the eve of the 13th international meeting of high representatives in charge of security issues, which will be held on May 27-29 in Moscow at the Rossiya National Center.
- Alexey Leontievich, on May 27-29, Moscow will host the 13th international meeting of high-level representatives in charge of security issues. Will it be attended by the delegations of the CIS countries?
- We traditionally invite our closest partners and allies from the countries of the former Soviet Union to participate in international meetings of high-level representatives in charge of security issues.
This platform allows discussing global and regional security issues, as well as topical issues of interest to most foreign countries, in an unpoliticized atmosphere, including with the heads of the CIS delegations.
The forum will include a plenary session, a round table on international cooperation in the field of information security, a scientific seminar on global security, as well as numerous bilateral meetings of participants.
Traditionally, an informal working lunch will be organized for the secretaries of the Security Councils of the CIS countries to communicate and exchange views on topical issues on the current agenda.
We have established a close and productive dialogue with our CIS partners, which is not limited to their participation in this forum. Contacts are constantly carried out on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including in the field of security of our countries. Every year, the secretaries of the CIS Security Councils meet in Moscow to discuss the regional issues of the Commonwealth, current and new challenges and threats, and ways to address them, including through joint efforts and within the framework of existing CIS mechanisms.
- Are separate negotiations involving Armenia and Azerbaijan planned during the conference?
- If we are talking about formal trilateral meetings as part of Russia-Azerbaijan-Armenia, then no, there are no plans. The program of the event is very dense, it does not involve additional narrow negotiation formats. At the same time, both the Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations are invited to participate not only in the plenary sessions and seminars, but also in the traditional working session for the CIS countries.
- What are the main tasks facing Russia in the context of its work within the framework of the Commonwealth?
- As you know, Russia held the presidency of the CIS in 2024. Serious work has been done to ensure the further development of the Commonwealth and increase its international prestige. About 150 events of various levels took place, including all meetings of the highest statutory bodies. A solid package of documents has been signed, the topics of which cover a wide range of areas – from economics and culture to politics and security.
- How are relations with the CIS countries developing in the economic sphere?
- I would also like to note that the CIS countries are Russia's key trade and economic partners. According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, in 2024, the CIS countries accounted for 15.6% of Russia's total foreign trade turnover, an increase of 7.1%. This is a good result.
To ensure successful economic cooperation, it is necessary to remove all kinds of barriers and guarantee investment protection. In this regard, one of the last important steps was the signing in 2023 of the Agreement on Free Trade in Services, Establishment, Operation and Investment, which entered into force in the summer of 2024. This international agreement provides for a single standard for the protection of investors and their investments in the markets of the States parties to the Agreement: guarantees of protection against expropriation, compensation for damage, dispute settlement procedures between the parties. This is, of course, another step forward, which contributes to the activation of business in the CIS area.
An equally important task is to counteract the illegal sanctions regimes imposed by Westerners against our country. Russia is actively working within the CIS to minimize the consequences of such unfriendly actions, including in the context of the impact on economic cooperation within the Commonwealth. The share of national currencies in settlements has reached 90%, and independent settlement systems are being strengthened. Largely due to this, the CIS area has become a key "growth point" in Eurasia – GDP growth averaged 4.4%, which exceeds both the global average and the growth of Western economies.
- How is the work on strengthening the security of the Commonwealth countries going?
- A lot of work is being done within the framework of the relevant CIS mechanisms on security issues in order to improve them, further strengthen the legal framework, and carry out practical measures. As one of the latest examples on this topic, I would like to note the coordination and approval of the Program of Cooperation in the field of deradicalization for 2025-2027. Our joint plans with our partners also include approving this year a Program of cooperation in strengthening border security at the external borders for 2026-2030.
- What joint projects in the cultural sphere are planned to be implemented?
- We intend to actively continue working with our friends in the CIS and in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, including through the mechanisms of the Council for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS member States and the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS member States, with the assistance of which more than 1,100 projects have already been implemented.
I would like to highlight one landmark project within the framework of the humanitarian activities of the Commonwealth. We are talking about an international organization for the Russian language. It is an independent organization with international legal personality and is not limited by the CIS space. It is open to the accession of any countries interested in cooperation on issues within its competence. This provides great opportunities for the dissemination of the Russian language not only in the post-Soviet space, but also outside it. Preparatory work is currently underway to start the functioning of the Organization and its Secretariat.
Russia also contributes to the issue of human rights in the CIS area. A number of pressing issues in this area are being discussed within the framework of the CIS Human Rights Commission and the CIS Commission of Commissioners for the Rights of the Child.
- What is the role of the CIS countries in the implementation of the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation on the formation of a new security architecture?
- This proposal of the head of state directly concerns activities within the CIS. The Commonwealth, as the central interstate association in the post-Soviet space dealing with security issues, as well as economic cooperation, can make a significant contribution to the formation of a new model of security on the Eurasian continent. In this regard, it seems that one of the most important areas of our joint work is to strengthen foreign policy coordination, develop coordinated approaches with CIS partners on relevant international and regional topics and promote them at the United Nations.
In my opinion, another important issue in the framework of creating a new security architecture in Eurasia is the work on closer cooperation between the CIS and the EAEU, CSTO, SCO, BRICS and other international organizations. This applies, among other things, to countering terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, cybercrime and other common threats.
If we talk about trends in the world as a whole, strengthening the positions of the states of the global South and East is an irreversible and natural process. Westerners are no longer a guide or an authority for most countries that want to develop independently and build their relations with other states based on the principles of mutual consideration of national interests, upholding sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, and rejecting ideological confrontation.
All this fully applies to the CIS countries, which understand the importance of a respectful and equal dialogue based on respect for the norms and principles of international law, and are aware of the need to strengthen integration structures in the post-Soviet space.
- We recently celebrated May 9th. How would you assess the attitude in the CIS countries to the topic of Victory in the Great Patriotic War?
- In almost all countries of the Commonwealth, numerous solemn events were held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, laying wreaths and flowers at war memorials, processions of the Immortal Regiment, and other commemorative events. This once again showed that the authorities of the CIS countries honor and remember the feat of the peoples of the USSR who defeated Nazism and liberated Europe.
One of the most important tasks in this area is to actively counter the plans of Westerners to rewrite and falsify history, attempts to belittle the role, and in fact, insult the memory and sacrifices of the multinational Soviet people in the liberation of the USSR and Europe, which suffered the greatest losses in this war, paying for the victory with millions of lives. The work on perpetuating the feat of Soviet soldiers and officers is systematically carried out both in our country and in our closest neighbors. It is important to pass on to the younger generation the memory of those glorious pages of history, which does not represent what the generation of winners had to endure.
In general, I would like to note that we highly appreciate the level of trust and cooperation with our partners in the former Soviet Union. We are ready to continue to jointly respond to threats and challenges emerging in the CIS space in order to ensure the development of our countries and the prosperity of our peoples, strengthen stability and regional security.
