CIS countries should coordinate positions within the UN, secretary general says

Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) need to coordinate their positions within the United Nations, CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev said, according to a report by TASS. Lebedev's remarks pointed to the value of a unified approach among member states on matters before the UN.

As part of his comments, Lebedev noted that Turkmenistan has played a leading role at the UN as a neutral state, citing the country's foreign policy stance as a notable example within the bloc. Turkmenistan has long maintained a policy of permanent neutrality, which it has used to position itself within international forums including the UN.

Coordination within a diverse bloc

The CIS comprises a number of post-Soviet states with varying foreign policy orientations, and calls for greater coordination within international bodies such as the UN have periodically featured in statements from the organization's leadership. Lebedev's comments suggest continued emphasis on aligning member states' positions in multilateral settings.

TASS's report did not elaborate on specific issues where Lebedev believes coordination is currently lacking, nor did it detail any concrete steps proposed to achieve closer alignment among CIS members at the UN.