The 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, the Republic of
Tajikistan, the Republic of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the
Republic of Ukraine,
seeking to build democratic law-governed
states, the 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, principles of equality and
noninterference in the internal affairs, the rejection of the use of force, the
threat of force and economic and any other methods of pressure, a peaceful
settlement of disputes, respect for human rights and freedoms, including the
rights of national minorities, a conscientious fulfillment of commitments and
other generally recognized principles and standards of international law;
recognizing and respecting
each other's territorial integrity and the inviolability of the existing
borders;
believing that the strengthening of the
relations of friendship, good neighborliness and mutually advantageous co-
operation, which has deep historic roots, meets the basic interests of nations
and promotes the cause of peace and security;
being aware of their
responsibility for the preservation of civilian peace and inter-ethnic accord;
being loyal to the
objectives and principles of the agreement on the creation of the Commonwealth
of Independent States;
declare on the following:
Co-operation between members of the
Commonwealth will be carried out in accordance with the principle of equality
through coordinating institutions formed on a parity basis and operating in the
way established by the agreements between members of the Commonwealth, which is
neither a state, nor a super-state structure.
In order to ensure international strategic
stability and security, allied command of the military-strategic forces and a
single control over nuclear weapons will be preserved, the sides will respect
each other's desire to attain the status of a non- nuclear and (or) neutral
state.
The Commonwealth of Independent States is open,
with the agreement of all its participants, to the states--members of the
former
The allegiance to co-operation in the formation
and development of the common economic space, and all-European and Eurasian
markets, is being confirmed.
With the formation of the Commonwealth of
Independent States the
Member states of the
Commonwealth guarantee, in accordance with their constitutional procedures, the
fulfillment of international obligations, stemming from the treaties and
agreements of the former
Member states of the Commonwealth pledge to
observe strictly the principles of this declaration.
(Journal
“Dimplomaticheskiy Vestnik”, 1992, # # 1, p. 7)