The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries have reaffirmed their readiness to develop cooperation with the European Union (EU) countries and the US, but they hope that they—i.e. the EU and US—will abandon the policy of sanctions.

Sergei Lebedev, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, stated the aforesaid within the framework of an international conference devoted to the 25th anniversary of the Commonwealth, according to TASS news agency of Russia. 

“We [i.e. the CIS] have great hope that the United States of America will abandon the policy of sanctions,” said Lebedev. “[And] the Europeans’ voice sounds louder and louder regarding the inexpedience of the continuation of sanctions.”

To note, Armenia is also a CIS member country.