Russian Senator: Relations With CIS Countries Are Russia's Foreign Policy Priority

Relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries are Russia's foreign policy priority, said Federation Council (upper house of parliament) CIS affairs committee chairman Vadim Gustov. Speaking at an international conference in Moscow "Eurasia - Russia's future: dialogue of cultures and civilizations" he stressed that "the CIS factor holds a principal position in Russia's foreign policy." Gustov said that only coordinated efforts and deliberate steps on reviving the CIS activity will be able to open before CIS member countries prospects and horizons in the coming decade. About 250 representatives of business circles and different religious confessions, politicians, parliamentarians and scientists take part in the international conference. The second, final, day of the conference is devoted, in particular, to discussion of Russia's role in integration processes in Eurasia.