Peskov says CIS helped foster closer regional integration

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 8 that the Commonwealth of Independent States remained relevant and had supported closer integration across the former Soviet Union. He cited the Eurasian Economic Union as an example.

Peskov said the Commonwealth's work over several decades had demonstrated the format's effectiveness despite its many routine procedures. He also stressed participants' interest in developing it further. RIA Novosti and Interfax reported his remarks.

He described the CIS as a setting in which newer and more advanced integration processes had developed. That assessment concerned the organisation's role rather than announcing a new union or a specific policy decision.

The remarks came during Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to Turkmenistan. The Russian president arrived on Thursday, October 8. The announced programme included a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State and a Caspian environmental summit.