President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on Friday to meet with the heads of former Soviet republics to discuss ways of reforming their loose regional alliance. Analysts see, however, energy as the main topic of Putin’s visit.
Unlike the previous June summit in St Petersburg, only 11 of the 12 presidents of the Confederation of Independent States (CIS) will attend as Ukraine's Viktor Yushchenko remains home for the final vote count in a cliffhanger parliamentary election. He will be represented by the country's foreign minister.
The agenda for the summit highlights uncertainty over the grouping's future. Topping the list is a draft proposal setting broad guidelines for the CIS's development, but two countries at least, Georgia and Azerbaijan, did not take part in the formulation of the document.
The CIS leaders will also discuss adopting a declaration on a coordinated migration policy. 'The CIS's difficulty is in ensuring obligatory fulfilment of decisions, because one decision is signed, for instance, by four states or by only one or by another three,' Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko told Interfax news agency.
Formed from the ashes of the Soviet Union, the Russia-dominated grouping has been unable to resolve long-standing conflicts among its members, and sceptics largely see it as defunct.
In what could be 'very intensive and sensitive discussions,' the CIS leaders also expect to replace Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose nation holds the group's rotating presidency, Prikhodko said.
On the side lines of the conference, Putin has planned time for bilateral talks and will celebrate Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon's 55th birthday, only two days before he also turns 55.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur- other wires