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Putin tells CIS leaders that post-Soviet alliance must be preserved,
but improved
By MIKE ECKEL
.c The Associated Press
KAZAN, Russia (AP) - President Vladimir Putin told leaders in the
Commonwealth of Independent States on Friday that the loose alliance
of ex-Soviet republics must be preserved, but improved - acknowledging
the pact's troubles as some members try to temper Russia's regional
influence.
It appeared, however, that leaders were unable to agree on substantial
reforms to reinvigorate the commonwealth - a trade and political pact
deemed increasingly ineffective since its inception with the 1991
Soviet collapse.
The leaders met against the backdrop of celebrations marking the
1,000th anniversary of the central Russia city of Kazan.
At a post-summit news conference attended by presidents from all 12
members except Turkmenistan, Putin made only passing reference to a
``package of measures'' to increase cooperation, and gave no details.
``I emphasize the main point here: that there is a general interest
among CIS participants to develop general, mutual cooperation,'' Putin
said.
He was, however, the only one who spoke, reading from prepared text,
and no questions from reporters were allowed - underscoring the idea
that the alliance is facing difficulties.
Earlier, in televised comments from a meeting of the CIS leaders,
Putin said it was in the interest of all members ``to preserve our
integrational union and to simultaneously raise the effectiveness of
its mechanisms.''
``It is clear that its purpose and aims today are being held up by
morally outdated forms and methods of work. Practically all our
colleagues have spoken of this,'' he said.
``It's one thing not to allow chaos and processes of collapse after
the fall of the USSR. It's another to work effectively on the goal of
coming closer,'' Putin said. Members must quickly ``work out a new
model of integration'' answering to common and individual national
priorities, he said.
Before the CIS summit, Putin met with the State Council, a group of
Russian regional leaders who gathered in Kazan, capital of the
Tatarstan region 720 kilometers (450 miles) east of Moscow.
He told them that the council, along with the ``the consolidation of
all Russian authorities'' and the ``widening of authority to the
regions,'' would help the country's economic and political
development.
The Kremlin in recent years has pushed legislative changes designed to
strengthen central control over the sprawling country. The latest
round, taken in response to a series of terrorist attacks, allowed the
president to appoint governors and overhauled how parliamentary seats
were elected - strengthening the hand of the largest, Kremlin-backed
political parties.
The CIS leaders met amid new signs that the peaceful revolutions in
Ukraine and Georgia, which brought pro-Western leaders to power, were
threatening to pull the group apart. Their presidents, Viktor
Yushchenko and Mikhail Saakashvili, called this month for a new
regional alliance to champion democracy in the former Soviet space.
The Commonwealth of Democratic Choice, the two leaders said, would
``help usher in a new era of democracy, security, stability and peace
across Europe, from the Atlantic to the Caspian Sea.''
Such a group would further irk Russia, which dominates the
CIS. Georgia and Ukraine have made membership in the European Union
and NATO priorities, and Moldova has taken a sharp Westward
turn. Moscow's ties with all three countries consequently have
deteriorated.
The Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan also saw a new administration
come to power after mass demonstrations.
In a sign of future tension, Putin said the next CIS summit would be
held in 2006 in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Belarus' authoritarian
leader Alexander Lukashenko claims foreign forces are helping
opposition groups to try and foment changes like those in Ukraine,
Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. Belarus' ties with the latter two countries
have frayed.
Russia already has shown signs it is trying to devise a new model for
dealing with former Soviet republics. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
hinted earlier this week that Russia may eventually stop providing its
substantial energy resources to Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova at
subsidized prices.
The 12-nation CIS was set up following the demise of the Soviet Union
with the aim of preserving economic and defense ties. It does not
include the Baltic states.
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov skipped the summit, as he
has before, sending a government official to represent his Central
Asian country.
08/26/05 13:56 EDT
From: Baghdasarian
but improved
By MIKE ECKEL
.c The Associated Press
KAZAN, Russia (AP) - President Vladimir Putin told leaders in the
Commonwealth of Independent States on Friday that the loose alliance
of ex-Soviet republics must be preserved, but improved - acknowledging
the pact's troubles as some members try to temper Russia's regional
influence.
It appeared, however, that leaders were unable to agree on substantial
reforms to reinvigorate the commonwealth - a trade and political pact
deemed increasingly ineffective since its inception with the 1991
Soviet collapse.
The leaders met against the backdrop of celebrations marking the
1,000th anniversary of the central Russia city of Kazan.
At a post-summit news conference attended by presidents from all 12
members except Turkmenistan, Putin made only passing reference to a
``package of measures'' to increase cooperation, and gave no details.
``I emphasize the main point here: that there is a general interest
among CIS participants to develop general, mutual cooperation,'' Putin
said.
He was, however, the only one who spoke, reading from prepared text,
and no questions from reporters were allowed - underscoring the idea
that the alliance is facing difficulties.
Earlier, in televised comments from a meeting of the CIS leaders,
Putin said it was in the interest of all members ``to preserve our
integrational union and to simultaneously raise the effectiveness of
its mechanisms.''
``It is clear that its purpose and aims today are being held up by
morally outdated forms and methods of work. Practically all our
colleagues have spoken of this,'' he said.
``It's one thing not to allow chaos and processes of collapse after
the fall of the USSR. It's another to work effectively on the goal of
coming closer,'' Putin said. Members must quickly ``work out a new
model of integration'' answering to common and individual national
priorities, he said.
Before the CIS summit, Putin met with the State Council, a group of
Russian regional leaders who gathered in Kazan, capital of the
Tatarstan region 720 kilometers (450 miles) east of Moscow.
He told them that the council, along with the ``the consolidation of
all Russian authorities'' and the ``widening of authority to the
regions,'' would help the country's economic and political
development.
The Kremlin in recent years has pushed legislative changes designed to
strengthen central control over the sprawling country. The latest
round, taken in response to a series of terrorist attacks, allowed the
president to appoint governors and overhauled how parliamentary seats
were elected - strengthening the hand of the largest, Kremlin-backed
political parties.
The CIS leaders met amid new signs that the peaceful revolutions in
Ukraine and Georgia, which brought pro-Western leaders to power, were
threatening to pull the group apart. Their presidents, Viktor
Yushchenko and Mikhail Saakashvili, called this month for a new
regional alliance to champion democracy in the former Soviet space.
The Commonwealth of Democratic Choice, the two leaders said, would
``help usher in a new era of democracy, security, stability and peace
across Europe, from the Atlantic to the Caspian Sea.''
Such a group would further irk Russia, which dominates the
CIS. Georgia and Ukraine have made membership in the European Union
and NATO priorities, and Moldova has taken a sharp Westward
turn. Moscow's ties with all three countries consequently have
deteriorated.
The Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan also saw a new administration
come to power after mass demonstrations.
In a sign of future tension, Putin said the next CIS summit would be
held in 2006 in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Belarus' authoritarian
leader Alexander Lukashenko claims foreign forces are helping
opposition groups to try and foment changes like those in Ukraine,
Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. Belarus' ties with the latter two countries
have frayed.
Russia already has shown signs it is trying to devise a new model for
dealing with former Soviet republics. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
hinted earlier this week that Russia may eventually stop providing its
substantial energy resources to Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova at
subsidized prices.
The 12-nation CIS was set up following the demise of the Soviet Union
with the aim of preserving economic and defense ties. It does not
include the Baltic states.
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov skipped the summit, as he
has before, sending a government official to represent his Central
Asian country.
08/26/05 13:56 EDT
From: Baghdasarian