Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov stated at Friday’s press conference in Dushanbe on the results of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) session that the global community and, in part, Russia and other CIS countries must draw lessons from the Iraq crisis. Speaking about the session results, Minister Ivanov said that a draft Program of CIS Member-States to Fight International Terrorism and Other Displays of Extremism for 2003-2004 had been agreed upon there. This document can now be signed by presidents of CIS countries in working order. He also stated that the coordinated draft program envisions the prevention, suppression, and investigation of terrorist acts on CIS territory. CIS Executive Secretary Yury Yarov announced that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko had been elected new CFM chairman, replacing Mr. Ivanov, who had previously served as CFM permanent chairman, in this post.
