The Permanent Representatives of the Commonwealth States discussed the preparations for the next meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Council of CIS Heads of State, which will be held in a videoconference format on October 15 and 16, respectively.

The permanent plenipotentiaries heard and discussed information on the practical contribution of the base organizations established within the CIS, as well as the councils created under them, in promoting interaction in the Commonwealth.

The meeting also considered the implementation of the provisions of the free trade zone agreement of October 18, 2011. The need for further work to eliminate trade barriers between the parties to the agreement was noted, which should serve as one of the most important conditions for economic growth and development of mutual trade. In order to further liberalize the terms of mutual trade, it was decided to continue monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the agreement and work on the preparation of a draft document on free trade in services.

In addition, the members of the Council of Permanent Representatives discussed the promotion of candidates from the CIS countries for the posts of the Secretary-General and heads of OSCE institutions and the work carried out within the framework of implementing the provisions of the memorandum on deepening interaction between the CIS Executive Committee and the Eurasian Economic Commission dated November 27, 2018.

Also at the meeting, the candidacies of the heads of CIS observer missions for the presidential elections in the Republic of Tajikistan on October 11 and the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova on November 1, 2020, were agreed. The mission to Tajikistan will be headed by Chairman of the Executive Committee Sergey Lebedev, and to Moldova – by his first deputy Viktor Guminsky.