CIS premiers to adopt 11 pilot innovative projects in Minsk

As many as 11 pilot innovative projects are supposed to be adopted at the session of the CIS Heads of Government Council in Minsk on 31 May. The information was released by Vladimir Garkun, First Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, BelTA has learned.

Participants of the session are expected to discuss the progress in implementing the interstate program for innovation-driven development, which was launched in 2012. The program has been used to make a list of pilot interstate innovative projects. They cover various areas of the work of the CIS states and are aimed at advancing information technologies, nanotechnologies, manufacturing technologies, aviation, space and transport systems. The projects also deal with security, energy effectiveness, rational nature management, and healthcare.

Apart from that, the meeting of the CIS heads of government will air a draft agreement on coordinating interstate relations in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. “It is a large-scale issue and we should pool efforts of the CIS states to resolve it,” noted Vladimir Garkun.

Humanitarian matters are traditionally discussed at such events. There are plans to discuss an agreement on cooperation in environmental protection, which is a logical thing to do this year since it has been declared the Year of Ecological Culture and Environmental Protection in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Vladimir Garkun underlined that the fact had forced CIS members to think about the need to set up a council for ecology as part of the CIS Executive Committee.

Participants of the summit will also discuss several other humanitarian projects, in particular, the mutual recognition of university diplomas. There are plans to arrange a convention of Russian language teachers. An action plan to advance physical education in 2013-2015 is in development.

All in all, the agenda of the session of the CIS Heads of Government Council comprises 19 items, which include over 30 questions. Financial and economic ones are the most important questions.