The CIS needs a new scientific and technical agreement, as well as strengthening of cooperation in research and industry, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan said at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in Astana.

He thanked the Chairman of the CIS Council of Heads of Government, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alihan Smaiylov for the traditionally warm welcome and wished fruitful work to Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov who is preparing to chair the council.

In the current macroeconomic conditions it is especially important to combine efforts to neutralize risks and jointly take targeted measures against possible economic and social consequences of these risks, he added.

Grigoryan stressed the importance of the work on drafting an agreement "on free trade in services, establishment, activities and investments." This agreement will be an important factor of growth of the national economies of the Commonwealth and Armenia is ready for productive dialogue for effective implementation of the agreement.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister one of the most important components of the cooperation should be the projects of technological development, creation and absorption of high technologies productions. The rapprochement of scientific institutions should be continued for that purpose, the traditional ties between them should be deepened. Their developments will be taken by industry, he added.

Meanwhile within the frames of the CIS there is only one basic document - the agreement "About creating common scientific and technological space of the Commonwealth member states" as of November 3rd, 1995. Grigoryan suggested considering a new agreement that would take into account new tasks as well as advanced achievements of the world science and technology. He supported the adoption of the Concept of scientific-technical and technological cooperation of the CIS countries and the action plan for its implementation.