DUSHANBE, June 25, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Russia takes over as the rotating chair of the council of CIS states’ permanent representatives to the CIS institutions and bodies following its session that was held in Minsk, Belarus on June 24. 

Ms. Mari Gutsalo, a spokeswoman for the CIS Executive Committee, said that Russia will take over as the rotating chare of the council starting from July 1, with its permanent representative Yevgeny Belov serving as the chairman.  According to her, representatives of Tajikistan (Amirkhon Safarov) and Moldova (Ivan Filimon) will serve as co-chairmen.  

The session also discussed preparation of proposals on making changes and addenda to the CIS charter with regard to the CIS further development concept and the meeting participants agreed with proposal of Russia to return to the issue of making amendments to charter after implementation of the plan of main actions for implementation of the CIS further development concept, the spokeswoman said.