The meeting’s agenda includes a review of the Organisation’s objectives, specifically to expand hands-on cooperation among the member states, including the development of cross-border roads, as well as sea and energy infrastructure. Participants will also discuss projects concerning renewable energy, energy efficiency, green technology, SMEs promotion, regional and municipal governance, and expanding export potentials of regional players.

The meeting is timed to coincide with the 25^th anniversary of the Organisation. A joint declaration is expected to be adopted.

In his congratulatory message, the Prime Minister said, in part:

“I hope that your appointment will foster the progressive development of Russia-France relations. I believe that expanding cooperation in trade and the economy, joint projects in industry, energy, transport infrastructure, high technology and other areas will serve the long-term interests of our countries.”

Approval has been granted to the standard draft agreement between the Federal Customs Service of Russia and a customs service (duly authorised body) of a state that is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union on preventing, identifying and stopping suspicious financial transactions by foreign trade participants. Suspicious financial transactions are transactions by foreign trade participants involving financial means that may be used to divert funds outside the country, finance unreported imports and thus evade taxation, legalise (launder) criminal proceeds, and finance terrorism, or to pursue other unlawful goals. This resolution seeks to improve interaction between the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the customs services of foreign countries in fighting violations of the currency law of the Russian Federation.

Reference

The draft was submitted by the Finance Ministry.

The signed resolution approves the standard draft agreement between the Federal Customs Service of Russia and a customs service (duly authorised body) of a state that is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union on preventing, identifying and stopping suspicious financial transactions by foreign trade participants (hereinafter referred to as the standard draft agreement)

Under the standard draft agreement, suspicious financial transactions include transactions by foreign trade participants involving financial assets, regardless of their form or underlying arrangements, that show signs of lacking an explicit economic rationale and clear legal purposes, and which may be intended to divert funds outside the country, finance unreported imports for the purposes of tax evasion, as well as to legalise (launder) criminal proceeds, finance terrorism, or other unlawful purposes.

In order to stop suspicious financial transactions, the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the customs service (duly authorised body) of a foreign state shall share information and/or documents that may be instrumental in identifying such transactions, including establishing cases of funds being diverted abroad, and conduct joint analytical studies regarding these matters.

The standard draft agreement provides a list of information to be exchanged by and between the Russian Federal Customs Service and the customs service (duly authorised body) of a foreign state, as well as the grounds and the procedure for sending and executing requests as part of the information sharing arrangement.

The standard draft agreement is consistent with the provisions of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of 29 May, 2014 and the provisions of other international treaties signed by the Russian Federation.

The implementation of the agreement will facilitate the creation of a mechanism for conducting scientific research at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing by scientists from different countries, providing a synergistic effect through the exchange of research results, samples, materials and software.

Reference

The draft was submitted by the Rosatom State Corporation in accordance with the Framework Programme of Cooperation of the CIS Countries in the Field of the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy until 2020 “Cooperation Atom-CIS” (signed 19 May 2011 in Minsk).

Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing is a unique experimental facility designed for conducting a wide range of research into structural and functional materials, both for the modernisation of existing industrial reactors and for advanced innovative power reactor units, and for solving applied and theoretical problems in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion.

Scientific centres and nuclear industry enterprises in Russia and scientific organisations in other CIS countries are interested in conducting research at the Kazakhstan facility.

The signed directive approves the draft agreement on the joint use of the experimental facilities at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing (hereinafter – the Agreement).

The draft Agreement was approved on 17 March 2017 by decision of the CIS Economic Council.

The Agreement defines areas for cooperation, stipulates the appointment of competent authorities and the establishment of an advisory scientific and technical council. The Agreement contains clauses on export control and protection of intellectual property. The signing of the Agreement will create a legal framework for the joint use of the facility in Kazakhstan by scientists from the CIS countries.

The implementation of the Agreement will contribute to reaching the goals of the Development of the Nuclear Power Industry state programme, create a mechanism for conducting scientific research at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing by scientists from different countries and enable synergy through the exchange of research results, samples, materials and software.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has sent congratulatory messages to the prime ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the 72^nd anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The messages stress that Victory Day is a great holiday symbolising the immortal feat of our fathers and grandfathers, who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, as well as the heroism of home front workers.

Mr Medvedev expressed confidence that the traditions of friendship established during the years of wartime ordeals would continue to serve as a reliable foundation for allied relations and strategic partnership between countries.

The Prime Minister asked his counterparts to convey wishes of happiness, prosperity and a long life to Great Patriotic War veterans in CIS countries, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as sincere words of respect and gratitude for their selfless heroic feat.