Foreign ministers of post-Soviet bloc meet in Moscow to boost coordination

Foreign ministers from regional grouping Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered Friday in Moscow to discuss issues of mutual interest.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the top diplomats discussed plans to further strengthen foreign policy coordination.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov outlined Russia’s approaches to key issues, including tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine.

“The crisis that originated in the Persian Gulf region … has essentially engulfed the entire Middle East,” said Lavrov.

It is fundamentally changing trends in Eurasia, in terms of security and the “safety of delivery routes” for energy, food, and fertilizers, he added.

The foreign ministers agreed to declare 2028 the year of social development and quality of life.

The next meeting will be held on Oct. 7 in Turkmenistan, ahead of the heads of state summit, the ministry said in a statement.

The CIS is a regional organization formed in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, comprising several former Soviet republics, including Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.