DUSHANBE, July 10, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A two-day meeting opened in Minsk, Belarus today to discuss intensification of scientific-technical cooperation among the CIS states.  

Maria Gutsalo, a spokeswoman for the CIS Executive Committee, said that the meeting is expected to consider issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of scientific and technical cooperation.   

The Minsk meeting has brought together heads of the national academies of sciences of the CIS states, academicians, professors, and leading researchers.   

She noted that further development of educational, scientific, informational and cultural spaces is one the main goals of humanitarian cooperation, determined in the Concept of further development of the CIS and the Plan of main actions for implementation of it.   

According to her, the council of the CIC heads of state on October 5, 2007 made a decision, under which the CIS executive committee and the state holding the rotting CIS presidency will arrange holding of a meeting of heads of state organizations responsible for science and technology in 2008 to develop proposals on expansion of cooperation among the CIS states in fundamental and applied sciences.   

Kyrgyzstan will assume the rotating CIS chairmanship and Bishkek is planned to host this meeting in the autumn.