You're reading: Kazakhstan will try to keep Ukraine within CIS

Kazakhstan, which will hold the CIS chairmanship in 2015, will make every effort to keep Ukraine within the commonwealth, Kazakh Ambassador to Belarus Tergali Bulegenov said at a press conference in Minsk on Dec.16.

“Kazakhstan very much would like Ukraine to stay in the CIS because it offers a one-of-a-kind platform for meetings and work on collective decisions, Kazakhstan will certain take measures, as far as its possibilities permit, to persuade Ukraine to keep its membership in this association,” Bulegenov said.

Membership in the CIS has produced a positive effect on the economies of its member countries, the ambassador said.

When speaking about steps Kazakhstan, as the CIS chair, could take to settle the situation surrounding Ukraine’s membership in the CIS, the diplomat said that everything would depend on the Ukrainian authorities’ actions.

“We will look at how the situation will develop and how the Verkhovna Rada will debate the issue of quitting the CIS,” Bulegenov said.

But if Ukraine makes a firm decision to leave the CIS, “no one will keep it there against its will,” he added.