Azernews.Az

Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Friday to discuss pressing issues facing the former Soviet bloc nations.
The summit was attended by all presidents of CIS countries except Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Georgia. The Azerbaijani delegation was headed by the prime minister, while Ukraine`s delegation was led by the Security Council secretary. Georgia did not send a delegation due to its recent announcement to secede from the CIS.
During the meetings, participants approved a decision to halt the activity of collective CIS peacekeeping forces in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. The measure had been put on the agenda at Russia`s request and was, subsequently, approved.
CIS leaders also commited themselves to focusing, in 2009, on the energy sector as a key area of cooperation within the bloc.
In addition to that, the representatives decided to re-work the draft of the CIS Economic Development Strategy by 2020.
Also discussed, were ways of preventing the adverse impact of the global financial crisis from harming CIS economies. The heads of state announced they would set up a special working group as part of joint efforts to ward off any adverse economic impact. The taskforce will next meet in Moscow within the next ten days at the level of CIS finance ministers.
An inter-governmental meeting of the Eurasia Economic Union Council, which consists of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, was held on the sidelines of the CIS summit, as well. Discussions focused on creating a joint customs council, as well as a common economic zone comprising Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Finally, attendees reached a decision to hold the next CIS summit in Chisinau, Moldova on October 9, 2009.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who currently chairs the CIS, announced that the chairmanship of the organization would be transferred to Moldova in 2009.