The 33rd meeting of the Council of the International Association of Academies of Sciences (IAAS) chaired by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASA) was held in a video conference format. The event was attended by heads of academies of sciences, leading universities, research institutes and science foundations from the CIS countries, the People's Republic of China, Montenegro, Mongolia and Vietnam, which are active and associate members of the IAAS.

The meeting was attended by the President of ANAS, academician Ramiz Mehdiyev and the First Vice-President of ANAS, academician Ibrahim Guliyev by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, an active member of the IAAS.

Chairman of NASA, head of IAAS academician Vladimir Gusakov informed about the results of the Association's activities in 2019-2020 and the tasks for 2021. The scientific councils of the IAAS, their composition, regulations of the Council of Young Scientists were discussed. During the event, Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, National Research Center of the Kurchatov Institute, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research were approved as active members of the IAAS.

Some changes were discussed in the charter of the association, and for the first time a provision on the election of active members of the IAAS was added. First of all, it was proposed to select scientists who have made significant contributions to the activities and science of the IAAS.

The members of the association nominated the President of ANAS, academician Ramiz Mehdiyev from Azerbaijan. This year's list also includes Pyotr Vityaz, head of the NASA Office, Deputy Chairman of the IAAS, Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the National Research Center of the Kurchatov Institute, Viktor Sadovnichy, rector of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Nikolai Kudryavtsev, rector of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, etc.

The elections were held by open ballot and the candidates were unanimously accepted as active members of the IAAS.

On behalf of the staff of ANAS, we sincerely congratulate academician Ramiz Mehdiyev on his election as an active member of IAAS.