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President of Russia

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National Priorities:
| Economic Growth
| Military Reform
| Against New Threats

RUSSIA IN THE CIS |

[Priorities / Russia in the CIS] |

2004

March 27
2004

The visa regime that exists between Russia and Georgia is not connected to how relations develop between the leaderships in the two countries, but is linked to the problem of fighting terrorism, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with journalists in Sochi.

If the proposals put forward by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili regarding joint anti-terrorist work are carried out, relations between Russia and Georgia could move to a new level.

Mr Saakashvili’s proposals include joint border patrols, joint special operations and other forms of cooperation, the main aim of which is to liquidate the rear support bases that armed rebel groups still operate on Georgian territory.

If cooperation in this area proves successful, there will be no further justification for maintaining the visa regime in place.

| Discussion with journalists

February 16
2004

President Vladimir Putin introduced to the State Duma the Agreement on Forming a Single Economic Space for ratification. This agreement was signed at the CIS summit in Yalta on September 19, 2003.

February 16
2004

President Vladimir Putin introduced to the State Duma the Treaty between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on the Russian-Ukrainian State Border for ratification. The treaty was signed in Kiev on January 28, 2003.

February 16
2004

President Vladimir Putin introduced to the State Duma the Treaty between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on Cooperation in and use of the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for ratification. The treaty was signed in Kerch on December 24, 2003.

February 6
2004

President Vladimir Putin and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev signed the Moscow Declaration between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The two sides agreed to encourage the work of the Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Commission, increase trade, broaden cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, in the non-ferrous metals and chemicals sectors, light industry, machine building and other sectors, help develop cooperation between the two countries’ banking and financial organisations and promote social contacts.

Russia and Azerbaijan will do all they can to help make the Caspian region a place of peace, stability, good-neighbourly relations and cooperation.

January 9
2004

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbaev signed an Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on cooperation and interaction on border issues.

The Agreement, which lasts for five years, determines the cooperation and interaction of the two countries in the following areas: guarding the Russian-Kazakhstan state border; detection, notification, prevention and exposure of illegal activity on the Russian-Kazakhstan border; combating terrorism and smuggling of weapons, ammunition, explosive devices, explosive and poisonous substances, radioactive materials, drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors; combating illegal migration; and combating other forms of transnational crime.

January 9
2004

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbaev signed an Agreement on developing cooperation on effective use of the Baikonur complex, and a Memorandum on further development of cooperation on issues for maintaining the functioning of the Baikonur complex.

The aim of the Agreement is to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in joint activity for maintaining the further effective use of the Baikonur space centre in the interests of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and to realise programs of international cooperation.

Russian and Kazakhstan specialists and organisations will participate on equal terms in realising joint projects at the Baikonur space centre.

The lease term of the Baikonur complex for the Russian Federation is extended until 2050.

In the Memorandum, the Russian and Kazakhstan Presidents instructed the Governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan to make agreed changes and additions in bilateral documents that were signed earlier, to speed up coordination of solving the issues of reclaiming land in areas of liquidated launch pits, and also to develop and coordinate the programme for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Baikonur space centre.

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