The+Commonwealth+of+Independent+States

The CIS was created in 1991 on the 8th of December by the Russian Federation, The Republic of Belarus, and the Ukraine. Each state’s leader signed an agreement to abolish the Soviet Union and create a new alliance of states.
 * History**

Russia and Belarus are the most powerful member states. Other member states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and the Ukraine are unofficial members/associates.
 * Member States**


 * Purpose**
 * Create an economic union between the states

The organization is lead by an Executive Secretary, and lower Charter Bodies (which include Council of the Heads of States, Council of the Heads of Governments, Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers ,Council of Commanders-in-Chief of Frontier Troops, Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and Economic Cour t), Executive Bodies (which include Economic Council, Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the States-Participants of the Commonwealth under Charter and Other Bodies of the Commonwealth, Executive Committee), and Bodies of Branch Cooperation (which include Anti -Terrorist Center, Interstate Bank, Interstate Statistical Committee, Interstate Council on Standardization Metrology and Certification, Interstate Council on Emergency Situation of Natural and Anthropogenic Character, Interstate Council on Antimonopoly Policy Coordinating council of the states-participants of the CIS on Informatization under the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications, Electric Energy Council, Interstate Council on Aviation and Air Space Use, Council of the Heads of Statistical Services of the States-Participants of the Commonwealth, Council of the Heads of Customs Services of the States-Participants of the Commonwealth, and others) .
 * Organization**

Some of the benefits of membership include military defence and alliance with other states and a boosted, more profitable economy.
 * Advantages of Membership**

The disadvantages of membership are lack of power of each member state to make it’s own economic decisions based on individual economy, and other similar issues.
 * Disadvantages of Membership**

As the CIS dismantled the Soviet Union and established independent states, local diversity is preserved because each state is given the right of self-determination and may practice whatever religion, culture and customs it chooses. However, economic development is encouraged by the organization, and with economic development comes globalization, which of course challenges local diversity.

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