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President of Russia

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT |

[ EVENTS / In the spotlight ] |

June 11 - 18 2004
June 18, Friday

The strategic guideline for the Collective Security Treaty Organisation member states’ joint work is to build an influential and effective international organisation able to take on responsibility for security and stability in the Eurasian area.

Speaking at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation’s Collective Security Council, President Vladimir Putin noted that the organisation should expand its cooperation with other international and regional organisations such as the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Cooperation could involve partnership in peacekeeping operations and joint work in the fight against terrorism and other threats.

The President noted that the Collective Security Treaty Organisation members have played a part in normalising the situation in Afghanistan and stressed that the organisation’s mechanisms make it possible to more effectively prevent drug trafficking and the threat of the spread of terrorism from within Afghanistan.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

| Response to a question at the press conference following the meetings of the Eurasian Economic Community Interstate Council and Collective Security Treaty Organisation’s Collective Security Council.

June 18, Friday

The Eurasian Economic Community is a driving force for economic integration in the post-Soviet area.

The national economies of the Eurasian Economic Community member states are showing sustainable growth and a rise in investment activity and foreign trade turnover, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the community’s Interstate Council.

The President noted that the Eurasian Economic Community has gained considerably in international authority and that other influential international organisations are showing interest in establishing contacts with the community.

Mr Putin said that the agreements reached and signed during the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Community members’ heads of state are very important for furthering the integration processes underway.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

| Speech at the plenary session of the Eurasian Economic Community Interstate Council

June 17, Thursday

Joint anti-terrorist training with the participation of law-enforcement bodies and the special services will be held by member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

At the summit in Tashkent, the leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan spoke in favour of this collective measure in fighting terrorism.

The declaration passed at the meeting in Tashkent expressed concern over the sudden outbreak of terrorism and extremism.

The threat of terrorism should be opposed by a global system of resistance led by the United Nations and relying on regional, sub-regional and national structures, the document said.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

| Answer to a question after the end of the meeting of the Council of heads of member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
| Expanding meeting of the Council of heads of member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

June 16, Wednesday

The Presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan have signed a bilateral strategic partnership agreement.

The agreement, which has no time limit, covers aspects of both economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

President Vladimir Putin said the agreement marks a qualitatively new level of political, economic and humanitarian relations between Russia and Uzbekistan and creates a solid legal foundation for bilateral strategic partnership.

In particular, the agreement provides for creating favourable conditions for participation in investment projects in both countries and developing security cooperation and a military-technical partnership.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

June 15, Tuesday

Payment of compensations in Chechnya should be carried out as originally promised to the population.

Vladimir Putin announced this at a meeting with the head of the Chechnya Interior Ministry Ali Alkhanov, who has decided to stand for the position of President of the Chechen Republic.

In accordance with the law, Ali Alkhanov should go on leave during the election campaign. The Russian President said that despite the upcoming leave, Ali Alkhanov should continue to work on ensuring the protection of the financial interests of the Chechen people.

Vladimir Putin stated that payment of compensations in the republic had slowed down somewhat, and so it necessary to restore social control over dispensation of cash compensations for lost housing. People should receive not promises but money, the Russian President said.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

| Talks with Interior Minister of Chechnya Ali Alkhanov and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy in the Southern Federal District Vladimir Yakovlev

June 12, Saturday

At the celebration of Russia Day on Red Square, representatives of all regions of the country and people of different generations gathered.

The thousand-year unity of the peoples of Russia helps us to build a free and democratic state, and an influential and leading nation in the world, said President Vladimir Putin at the celebration.

Vladimir Putin said that the current policy for development of real federalism and a strong civil society in Russia was unchangeable.

The state aims to ensure that the talent and skills of each person in the country are in demand, that power at all levels serves the interests of citizens fairly, and that it is not just effective but responsible to people.

The more effectively citizens’ rights are ensured, the stronger the Russian state will be, the President stressed.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

| Speech at the Russia Day celebrations

June 11, Friday

President Vladimir Putin said that the international security and global economic cooperation issues discussed at the G-8 summit are of immense importance for Russia.

Evaluating the summit’s results, the President said that the G-8 leaders exchanged their plans for global economic development and this is important for Russia as it will have a direct effect on the country’s economic situation.

Also very significant for Russia were other issues discussed at the Sea Island summit such as the situation in the Middle East.

The Greater Middle East idea emerged as a result of terrorism’s transformation into one of today’s most serious global threats. Given the roots of terrorism and the factors contributing to its spread, including the lack of democratic conditions that mean vast resources are not under control, a move to promote democratisation is a move in the right direction. But what is important, Mr Putin noted, is that this idea and the instruments used to implement it not become a means for intervening in other countries’ domestic affairs. For Russia this is a condition of principle in joint work on developing the Greater Middle East initiative.

The next G-8 summit will be held in Scotland in 2005. In 2006, the G-8 will hold its annual summit in Russia.

Photo by the Presidential Press Service

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