Avaza:Foreign ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states adopted a joint statement supporting measures to prevent an arms race in outer space. This decision was made during a meeting in Turkmenistan's Avaza National Tourist Zone on the Caspian Sea coast, preceding a leaders' summit of the organization on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the CIS statement emphasizes the member states' commitment to conducting space exploration and usage activities to foster international cooperation, mutual understanding, and the maintenance of international peace and security.

The statement expressed serious concern over the potential for outer space to become a theater of military confrontation, which could destabilize global security. The CIS foreign ministers believe that prohibiting the deployment of weapons in space could be instrumental in averting significant threats to international peace and security.

This joint statement was part of several documents endorsed at the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, which included participation from the top diplomats of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, along with Armenia's deputy foreign minister and Kyrgyzstan's first deputy foreign minister.

The CIS was formed in 1991 after the Soviet Union's dissolution to enhance cooperation in economic, political, and security matters. It comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as full members, while Turkmenistan is an associate member. Moldova suspended its participation in CIS meetings in 2022.