CIS Government Heads Gather In Moscow
November 25, 2005
25 November 2005 -- Government leaders from the 12-member Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are meeting today in Moscow to discuss trade and security issues.
ITAR-TASS reports Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev will not attend today's meeting, as they have both chosen to instead attend a Central European Initiative summit in Slovakia.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli is expected to attend the meeting. There had been speculation that he might not attend due to a diplomatic dispute between Russia and Georgia that has involved the CIS.
On 22 November, the Georgian parliament agreed to start a debate on the country's CIS status after Russia delayed issuing an entry visa to a Georgian representative due to attend a CIS parliamentary meeting in St. Petersburg.
But on 24 November, Noghaideli told Ekho Moskvy radio station that Georgia will not leave the CIS.
(ITAR-TASS)