By Andrey Belov
The forum was held within the framework of the presidency of the Republic of Belarus in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Intergovernmental Foundation for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Co-operation and the Government of Belarus with the support of President of the Republic of Belarus, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, CIS Executive Committee and the Minsk City Executive Committee were organisers of the forum.
Representatives of non-governmental, educational, scientific and creative organisations of all CIS countries participated, and discussed further ways of keeping the educational, scientific and cultural space of the CIS countries along with the intensification of intercultural dialogue and co-operation.
‘2013 — a year of environmental culture and preservation of the environment in CIS countries’ was the main theme of the forum but the range of issues which were discussed was much broader. Alongside the main dialogues, there were also a coordination meeting of the leaders of agencies of branch co-operation of the CIS in humanitarian spheres, a sitting of the Council of Heads of Conservatories and Academies of Music of CIS countries and the Council of the Eurasian Universities Association. A joint sitting of the Council on Humanitarian Co-operation of CIS also took place. There was also a presentation of the editorial project of the Accord of Hearts. And famous guests were able to get to know Belarus better thanks to the varied information and cultural programme of the forum.
