Ukrainian President changed his mind to go to Moscow informal CIS summit

Regnum, Russia
July 21 2006

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko will not visit Moscow informal
CIS summit convening July 21-22, presidential press secretary Irina
Gerashchenko announced at a press briefing on July 21. "Taking into
account the political situation in the country, President of Ukraine
took decision that he must stay in Ukraine these days," REGNUM quotes
the press secretary.

Gerashchenko also said that Yushchenko on July 21 sent an official
letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he assured the
latter of the openness of Ukrainian-Russian relations and that Ukraine
regards Russia as her main strategic partner.

Earlier, a number of Ukrainian media referring to official and
unofficial sources close to the Ukrainian President alleged that
Yushchenko was ready to attend the summit in Moscow.

Previously, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili also unexpectedly
decided to cancel his visit to Moscow. Some sources reported that he
turned back his motorcade virtually in Tbilisi airport. No official
reason for the decision was announced. However, sources in Tbilisi
hinted that Saakashvili did not manage to agree with Putin on a
special meeting.

Later, it was reported that President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
also would stay home due to acute respiratory disease.