Modern Europe - Commonwealth of Independent States

Commonwealth of Independent States

See also: Post-Soviet states#Regional organizations

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a loose organization in which most former Soviet republics participate. A visa-free regime operates among members and a free-trade area is planned for the beginning of 2011. Ukraine is not an official member, but does participate in the organization. Some members are more integrated than others, for example Russia and Belarus form a Union State. In 2010 Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan formed a customs union and a single market (Common Economic Space) is scheduled to commence on 1 January 2012. The Presidents of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan plan to create a Eurasian Union with a Eurasian Commission in 2015. A common currency is also planned, potentially to be named "evraz". Some other countries in the region are potential members of these organizations.

Read more about this topic:  Modern Europe

Famous quotes containing the words commonwealth of, commonwealth, independent and/or states:

    “We must conceive of this whole universe as one commonwealth of which both gods and men are members.”
    —Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)

    “I’the commonwealth I would by contraries
    Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
    Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
    Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
    And use of service, none; contract, succession,
    Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
    No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
    No occupation; all men idle, all,
    And women too, but innocent and pure.”
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God.”
    —Bible: New Testament, 1 Corinthians 11:11.

    In v. 9, Paul wrote “Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.”

    “I would rather be known as an advocate of equal suffrage than to speak every night on the best-paying platforms in the United States and ignore it.”
    —Anna Howard Shaw (1847–1919)