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Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko and Leonid Kuchma arrived in Vitebsk to take part in the opening of the Day of Friendship of the Three Fraternal Peoples being held as part of the international “Slavic Bazaar” festival.

The three leaders met at the Belarusian President’s country residence of Krupenino. They discussed in an informal atmosphere various issues of trilateral interaction within the CIS and the outlook for trade, economic, interregional and cross-border cooperation. The Russian President shared his impressions of the recent G8 Summit in Genoa.

After the three-party meeting Mr Putin and Mr Lukashenko had a separate talk. The two leaders focused on the topical aspects of Russian-Belarusian cooperation and the building of the Union State.

The Russian leader also met the Ukrainian President. The two leaders reviewed the implementation of the trade and economic agreements reached earlier and the plans of further development of bilateral contacts at various levels, including the top level. Mr Putin accepted Mr Kuchma’s invitation to visit the Crimea on July 28–29. On Russian Navy Day the two leaders will review a joint naval parade of the Russian and Ukrainian fleets and hold summit talks.

After the meeting the Presidents answered questions from journalists.