CIS leaders signed the Concept for Further Development of the Commonwealth and the Plan of Major Events for its Implementation. "The limited participation of some CIS member states in the activity of its bodies and adopted documents, stipulated by peculiarities of their national interests, is viewed in the Commonwealth with understanding and respect," the document says.

The concept says it will not impede consideration by CIS member states of all the options for the future development of the Commonwealth. "The Commonwealth implements interaction models of differing levels and formats taking into consideration the peculiarities of national interest and the foreign policy of the CIS member states. At the same time the consensus principle is maintained in the decision-making process in terms of the CIS," the document says.

The leaders determined that one of the main goals of the Commonwealth was the "long-term formation of an integrated economic and political association of the interested states providing for the efficient development of each participant." The document says that the multi-sector nature of the CIS will be retained, and a harmonized development of all interacting spheres will be ensured.

Main directions of CIS development are the support of the socioeconomic stability and international security; consolidation of neighborly relations; improving the competitiveness of the member states and ensuring their participation in the world economy; raising the living standards and well being of citizens, as well as contributing to each state’s accession to the WTO. "Raising the effective activity of the Commonwealth will be a major task of the forthcoming CIS development stage. Common understanding of legal status, of the CIS bodies’ decisions, ensuring implementation by states of their commitments, and monitoring of their implementation will be needed," it says.

The CIS states will seek harmonization between their national legislations and implementation of major international principles and standards in the sphere of democracy and human rights. The concept stresses that the CIS states are observing the values included in the UN Charter.

"Under modern conditions, the Commonwealth is an instrument preventing conflict between civilizations Cooperation in terms of the CIS is based on respect for common humanitarian values being the foundation for counteracting the ideology of extremism, intolerance and terrorism," CIS leaders say. Coordination of all activities to carry out the plan for implementation of the Concept is accomplished by the state chairing in the CIS Council of Heads of State.

In connection with the need for further development of the Commonwealth, standardization of CIS structures and bodies will be needed. In transition from the chairmanship by one state to the chairmanship of another state, continuity should be retained, including in the implementation of earlier adopted decisions. The one-year chairmanship is implemented by a state simultaneously in the Council of the Heads of State, in the Council of the Heads of Governments, Council of Foreign Ministers, CIS Economic Council and other bodies.

The Council of the Heads of States determines the strategy of development of the Commonwealth, studies the conceptual, strategic problems and tasks of the political and economic cooperation. The concept was signed by heads of state of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.