Lukashenka at CIS summit in Turkmenistan calls for strengthening unity through the economy

At the CIS summit, Alaksandr Lukashenka urged the Commonwealth countries to take steps toward closer unity and named the expansion of economic cooperation as a priority. The summit of heads of state took place in Avaza, Turkmenistan.

According to Lukashenka, unity in the CIS is fragile. He said: "without a foundation of common interests and joint action in the economy, lasting unity is impossible." At the end of the official part of his speech, as non-state Belarusian outlets report, he repeated that the countries need to move toward strengthening unity, above all through the economy.

Telegram channels also cite a more direct wording: "Let's take steps toward closer unity. And unity will be ensured for us above all by the economy."

Lukashenka did not limit himself to the economy. According to pro-Russian outlets, he said that the CIS states are united by a desire for a fair system of global governance and for trade on equal terms. He added: "Unity in the Commonwealth rests on a shared history, cultural heritage and human ties." According to Belarusian state media, he repeated this idea at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State.

Historical arguments stand alongside the economic priority in his speech. But the reports on the speech do not mention any specific steps the countries should take. It is not yet known when the expansion of economic cooperation within the CIS that Lukashenka spoke about will begin.