MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti, Natalya Belova) - The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) should develop a new model of integration, adjusted to the priorities of its member-states, a high-ranking Russian CIS official said.
Vladimir Rushailo, the CIS Executive Committee Chairman, said an agreement on improving and reforming the CIS bodies, signed by CIS leaders at the recent summit in Kazan (Tatarstan), is just the first stage of CIS reform.
Rushailo said economic cooperation was a top priority for CIS members, adding that the first five months of this year had demonstrated positive trade dynamics both within the CIS and with other countries.
CIS trade totaled $188 billion, including export growth of 33% at $123.2 billion and import growth of 26% to $64.8 billion. Trade surplus grew to $58.5 billion in January-May, a 34% increase year-on-year.
