Стр. 22 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
with its partners in the CSTO, the EAEU, the CIS, and the Union State.
Mikhail Yevdokimov, Director, First CIS Department,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sent a mes-
sage of greetings to conference participants:
"I wholeheartedly welcome the participants in this
conference, which International Affairs magazine
holds in Yalta with support from the Foreign Ministry
of Russia.
"Over the past six years, this forum has developed
into a respected platform for constructive discussions on the current issues of cooperation in
the vast expanses of the Commonwealth of Independent States. An ambitious agenda and an
open and creative atmosphere attract many influential delegates from the ministries and agencies,
research and expert communities and the Russian and foreign media.
"Our foreign policy priorities include the development of multifac-eted interaction with the
CIS countries and the strengthening of the integration structures in which Russia is a member.
When Russia assumes the rotating CIS presidency in 2017, we will continue to strengthen our
mul-tifaceted cooperation and promote and coordinate regional integration processes which
have become an integral part of a comprehensive interstate dialogue.
"The key task is to tap the huge potential of integration within the Eurasian Economic Union
(EAEU) in order to enhance the competitiveness of the member states and improve the living
standards of their people. We are interested in further developing mutually beneficial ties be-
tween the EAEU and other states and their integration associations, including with a view to
implementing the Greater Eurasian Partnership initiative which President of Russia Vladimir
Putin has advanced.
"I am convinced that your conference will be conducive to finding the best ways to achieve
these goals, enhancing Crimea's investment attractiveness, implementing promising projects in
the region and strengthening friendship, confidence and mutual understanding between the na-
tions of our continent.
"I wish you productive sessions and all the best.
"Sergey Lavrov."
Alexander Stoppe, Head of the Analytics Department at
the Permanent Committee of the Union State of Russia and
Belarus (Russia)
UNIFICATION with a high level of economic inte-
gration on an economic basis alone has its limits, and
without elements of trust, humanitarian bonds, and
cooperation in countering shared threats and chal-
lenges, unification processes may also be restricted.
As such, integration processes in the post-Soviet
space have significant advantages: The people who
live there have extensive experience not only in cooperation but also a common historical fate.