OFFICIAL NEWS
SUMMIT OF THE CIST MEMBER-STATES
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the Summit.
At the beginning, participants of the Summit held a close session. Mainly economic issues were discussed during that session.
Further, a wide-format meeting started. A number of issues discussed at the sittings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and government heads on September 18 were on agenda of the Summit. Chairman of the CIS state heads council, President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, opening the session, underlined the necessity of expansion of economic cooperation between the Commonwealth members. He offered to mark April 26 as a memorial day of Chernobyl accident, to carry out work on solemn celebrations of the 60th anniversary or victory in Great Patriotic War (World War II).
At the wide-format meeting, the participants signed documents on development of economic cooperation, on introduction of amendments into the CIS Charter. In addition, the plan of actions and preparation program to the 60th anniversary of victory in Great Patriotic War was approved.
After the meeting, participants of the Summit held a news conference. Presidents of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Byelorussia announced on signing of an agreement on free trade zones between the four states.
President of Georgia Eduard Shevarnadze said that close consultations were held on resolution of the Abkhazian , as well as other conflicts in the territory of the Commonwealth.
In his responses to journalists, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that all conflicts in the territory of CIS should find a fair resolution basing on international norms.
A regular Summit of the CIS state heads rounded.
An official reception was given by the President of Ukraine on September 19 on this occasion. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the reception.
On the same day, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev was back to Baku.
