Dzhabarov links CIS ties to shared Soviet history

Russian Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov said the CIS countries’ shared experience within the Soviet Union helps maintain close ties. Speaking on October 9 to RIA Novosti, he described Russian as a unifying language across the Commonwealth.

In Dzhabarov’s assessment, representatives can communicate without interpreters, while their accumulated experience of working together remains relevant. He also said Russia, Belarus and Central Asian countries were willing to help one another.

He listed energy, civilian nuclear power, agriculture, mineral fertiliser supplies and mechanical engineering as areas of cooperation. Dzhabarov argued that CIS members had learned to manage without support from Western sponsors.

Against the backdrop of discussion about Commonwealth ties, Vladimir Putin invited CIS leaders to their traditional informal gathering before the New Year in St Petersburg. Interfax reported that the meeting was scheduled for December 21 and that Putin proposed discussing current and future issues.