DUSHANBE, January 6, 2009, Asia-Plus - Moldova assumes the rotating CIS chairmanship and Chisinau, capital of Moldova, will host the next annual CIS summit set for October 2009, according to press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The last annual CIS summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 10 2008 and the CIS leaders pledged to enhance integration within the framework of the CIS.  At the summit, the CIS leaders approved 19 documents aimed at promoting cooperation in such areas as economy and security and in the fight against drugs.  They also agreed to make energy a key area of cooperation in 2009.

The Bishkek summit also endorsed regulations on the CIS rotating chairmanship.  The document aims to promote strengthening and development of CIS.

Under the adopted regulations the sate holding the rotating CIS presidency organizes work of bodies and the CIS as a whole, offers priorities of the work of the CIS during its rotating chairmanship and coordinates implementation of the work, monitors the process of implementation of resolutions and in case of necessity conducts consultations with member nations on the most topical issues of the CIS activity, the press service said.

In 2009, the CIS member nations have to implement a number of important tasks related to making energy a key area of cooperation this year and announcing 2009 the Year of Youth within the CIS area.  A special attention will be paid to development of a draft plan of implementation of the first stage of the strategy for the CIS’ economic development till 2020.