Moldovan Security Service to take over chair of CIS intelligence services panel

The Moldovan Service of Information and Security (SIS) will chair the Council of chiefs of intelligence services of the CIS countries in 2008-2009. The decision was made at the 9th reunion of the intelligence service chiefs of the CIS states, unfolding on October 9-10 in Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from the SIS press unit. The reunion broaches modern challenges and threats to the external security of the CIS countries. The Chisinau summit is attended by deputations from Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin attended the opening ceremony wishing the attendees to deepen the cooperation of the countries of the Community of Independent States. The participants have exchanged views as to main issues of countering international organized crime and especially drugs smuggling, illegal migration, weapon smuggling. They have agreed to join efforts to counter international terror, political and religious extremism, and their being promoted. They want to prevent CIS citizens from involving into radical organizations. In a final memo, the intelligence service chiefs have confirmed their firm position to enlarge the scope of ways of cooperation in better countering threats and dangers to the external security of the CIS countries. The same day Vladimir Voronin met Mikhail Fradkov, the director of the Russian Intelligence Service. According to the presidential press unit, Voronin has underlined the interests of the Moldovan authorities for cooperating with the intelligence services of Russia and of other CIS countries to enhance the regional security, especially because of the Transnistrian separatist regime, which Voroninb called “a hotbed of instability at regional and European levels.” On October 10, the intelligence chiefs will have bilateral meetings.