"The CIS is using its potential only in part. Almost all CIS countries' presidents agree with me on that point. The CIS has remained a mere club for countries that used to make up the USSR. Integration dynamism of the Commonwealth is getting down.
"Be all that as it may, we highly appreciate the present-day CIS network of multilateral contacts-a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The system does not clash with Moldova's European choice, while Moldova's concerted efforts to enter European structures does not demand its secession from the CIS."
President Voronin explained his conspicuous absence at CIS summitry in Astana, Kazakh capital-the summit agenda made the Moldovan Prime Minister's presence quite sufficient, he said.
The Astana summit centred round a conference of four presidents whose countries are working for a united economic environment-Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. "The summit itself was just a picnic round that central dish," he chuckled.
As WTO member, Moldova is outside the budding environment, which-as Mr. Voronin sees it-was blueprinted to help the four countries to join the World Trade Organisation at a time.
Moldova is following a road all its own: "It has firmly determined its integration priorities. Moldova and the European Union are signing a bilateral plan this autumn. That will be a landmark, and it binds my country to update not only its laws but its entire state management," stressed the President.
