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President Vladimir Putin briefly summarised the meeting. He said that the discussion, though informal, was intensive and candid, and concerned key aspects of the CIS countries’ partnership.

Apart from foreign politics and economic cooperation, the leaders discussed important domestic problems that reflected on the international situation, Mr Putin said. In particular, the CIS countries’ Presidents fully supported Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin’s balanced policy and promotion of conflict resolution by diplomatic measures.

Mr Putin also said that the summit discussed the pre-election situation in Ukraine on its initiative, and that the Presidents agreed upon sending CIS observers to the polls.

When journalists asked about relations with Georgia in the context of US presence in the region, Mr Putin said that he did not see any tragedy in American security experts’ arrival in Georgia. The crux of the matter lay elsewhere, he said—Russia had been notified about their arrival by the United States, while similar notification from Georgia was belated.

As Mr Putin stressed, every country has the right to pursue security policies the way it deems best. He stressed that the development of a Russian-Georgian security cooperation satisfied Russia, especially after Georgia recently changed the leadership of its law enforcement agencies. He said he hoped focused teamwork with Georgia would go on.

As he was addressing the informal CIS summit, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze de facto acknowledged problem-laden developments in the Pankisi Gorge, which had forced him to invite foreign experts to his country. He said he had to do so because of the weakness of Georgian law enforcement and security agencies.