Alma Ata Declaration

Commonwealth of Independent States Declaration of December 21, 1991

Independent States

     The Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation (RSFSR), the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine,

     Striving to build democratic States governed by the rule of law, relations between which will develop on the basis of mutual recognition and respect for State sovereignty and sovereign equality, the inalienable right to self-determination, the principles of equality and non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force and threat of force, economic and any other methods of pressure, peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for human rights and freedoms, including the rights of national minorities, the faithful fulfillment of obligations and other generally recognized principles and norms of international law;

     Recognizing and respecting each other's territorial integrity and the inviolability of existing borders;

     Considering that the strengthening of deep-rooted historical relations of friendship, good-neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation meets the fundamental interests of peoples and serves the cause of peace and security;

     Aware of their responsibility for the preservation of civil peace and interethnic harmony;

     Being committed to the goals and principles of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States,

     declare the following:

     The interaction of the members of the Commonwealth will be carried out on the principle of equality through coordinating institutions formed on a parity basis and operating in accordance with the procedure determined by agreements between the members of the Commonwealth, which is neither a state nor a supranational entity.

     In order to ensure international strategic stability and security, the joint command of the strategic military forces and unified control over nuclear weapons will be maintained; the parties will respect each other's desire to achieve the status of a nuclear-weapon-free and (or) neutral State.

     The Commonwealth of Independent States is open, with the consent of all its members, for the accession of the member States of the former USSR, as well as other States that share the goals and principles of the Commonwealth.

     The commitment to cooperation in the formation and development of a common economic space, pan-European and Eurasian markets is confirmed.

     With the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ceases to exist. The member States of the Commonwealth guarantee, in accordance with their constitutional procedures, the fulfillment of international obligations arising from treaties and agreements of the former USSR.

     The member States of the Commonwealth undertake to strictly observe the principles of this Declaration.

For the Republic of Azerbaijan.Mutalibov

For the Russian Federation (RSFSR)Boris Yeltsin

For the Republic of Armenia.Ter-Petrosyan

For the Republic of Tajikistan.Nabiev

For the Republic of Belaruspresident of the Supreme Soviet.Shushkevich

For Turkmenistan.Niyazov

For the Republic of Kazakhstann.Nazarbayev

For the Republic of Uzbekistan.Karimov

For the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.Akaev

For Ukrainians.Kravchuk

For the Republic of Moldova

President    

Republic of Kazakhstan     

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