CIS leader to hold unofficial summit in Moscow

MOSCOW, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS: CIS leaders will hold a summit meeting
dedicated to the 65th anniversary of victory in WWII here on Saturday.

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is currently chairing the
CIS, invited CIS leaders to come to Moscow to mark the V-Day. `The
unofficial meeting of CIS heads of state will be dedicated to the 65th
anniversary of victory in WWII, a central subject of Russia’s current
chairmanship in the CIS,’ a Kremlin source told Itar-Tass and added
that the year 2010 had been declared the Year of Veterans in the CIS.

`The CIS heads of state are expected to pass a joint address to WWII
veterans. Along with the address to the CIS peoples and the world
community on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Victory
passed at the CIS Chisinau summit in October 2009, this document will
demonstrate adherence to the historical truth about World War II, and
will focus on protection of socio-economic rights and legal interests
of WWII veterans,’ the source said.

`Bearing in mind the meeting’s unofficial character, there are no
fixed agenda. The heads of state are likely to take a chance to
exchange their views on the current state and prospects for
development of comprehensive cooperation within the CIS. Thus, they
are expected to discuss the first results of Russia’s chair in the
organization, including such subjects as innovation and hi-tech
cooperation, top-priority areas of humanitarian cooperation in
2011-2012, and issues of a forthcoming 20th anniversary of the CIS in
December 2011,’ the source added.

On Friday, Russian president’s aide Sergei Prikhodko said the
Saturday’ s summit would be attended by CIS executive secretary Sergei
Lebedev, whose term of office expires in 2010, and the issue might
also be raised at the meeting.

According to Prikhodko, leaders of all former Soviet republics were
invited to Moscow, with the exception of Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili. `He will be out of place here,’ Prikhodko was reported to
say. `Why should we invite him (Saakashvili), if he demolishes
monuments? (The monument to soldiers killed in WWII was destroyed in
December 2009) It would be strange to invite Saakashvili due to this
reason only. If a man takes a political decision to demolish a
monument to war heroes he will be unwelcome here.’