MOSCOW, December 19 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the following three summits on Wednesday: a session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC) meeting at the level of the Heads of State, and a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
The forecast is that Putin's workday Wednesday may be drawn out until midnight. At all events, it is precisely by a busy schedule that he explained with regret his reluctance to attend the charity concert of the two great tenors, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.
"I'd have attended the concert with pleasure. However, tomorrow (on Wednesday) we've got a big event, an international one. Nothing but work that will continue for many solid hours, and last probably until midnight. I'm very sorry about the two events coinciding," Putin said.
Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has told journalists that a session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will be the first to be held to discuss "measures to strengthen the potential of CSTO member-states, the situation in Afghanistan, and optimization of military cooperation". As far as the situation in Afghanistan is concerned, emphasis in discussion is to be laid on working out practical measures to counteract challenges emanating from the territory of that country, especially considering the forthcoming withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force from there in 2014. Together with the Defence ministers, the Heads of State will consider matters concerning military cooperation and optimization of the system for the control of the military component of the CSTO.
The Organization's rotating presidency is to pass on to Kyrgyzstan. In view of this, President of the Republic Almazbek Atambayev will inform those present of the priority aspects of the CSTO activities for the duration of Kyrgyzstan's presidency. The CSTO brings together Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia. Uzbekistan has suspended its membership in the Organization.
A EURASEC summit is to be held later in the day. Ushakov says the main subjects on the agenda are a reform of EURASEC and optimization of its structure. "The Secretariat staff will be scaled down," he pointed out. The Heads of State, Ushakov said, will consider the segment of financial matters concerning EURASEC activities, including a report on the 2011 EURASEC budget performance, and a budget for 2013.
A report on the work of the Council of the Ministers of Justice of the EURASEC member-states is to be also presented to the Heads of State. The leaders are to make a decision on chairmanship at the EURASEC Interstate Council in 2013.
The leaders are expected to estimate the fulfilment of the 2011-2013 Plan of activities in implementation of the Concept of EURASEC international activities, as well as the purpose-oriented programmes "Innovative Biotechnologies" and "Recultivation of EURASEC Member-Countries' Territories Affected by the Effects of Uranium Mining Processes".
Then a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) will be held. Assistant to the President Sergei Glazyev explained that the leaders would discuss matters aimed at furthering and deepening integrational development with a view to forming a Eurasian Economic Union by 2015.
A report by Viktor Khristenko, Chairman of the Board of the Eurarasian Economic Commission (EEC), on the work done to attain the basic objectives of integration is expected to be also presented to the Heads of State. "Paramount attention will be devoted to the accomplishment of the tasks of ensuring the functioning of the Customs Union (CU) and the establishment of a Common Economic Space (CES), as well as to determining parameters of a further development of the integrational projects," Glazyev specified.
Much attention in the consideration of items on the agenda is to be devoted to matters relating to international activities of the EEC. Glazyev recalled that the EEC is a supranational body which is responsible for the regulation of foreign trade within the CU framework, tariff protection, customs regulation, and protective measures.
Glazyev said it is also planned to mull launching talks with Vietnam on the conclusion of a Free Trade Agremeent and on the elaboration of a common stand of the CU and CES countries during negotiations on Russia'a and Kazakhstan's basic agreements with the European Union.
The agenda also includes items concerning amendments to the CU normative acts, the amendments prompted by the development of the legal and institutional basis of the integrational association. In particular, this will refer to the elimination of of the CU Commission, the functions of which devolved on the EEC.
Those present at the session are also to endorse an EEC budget for 2013. "Unscheduled matters may be considered as well," Glazyev added.
Joint documents are expected to be signed as a result of the summits, Ushakov said. Putin will also hold bilateral meetings. "The first one will be with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to sign two documents: on joint actions in the 2013-2015 period, and an intergovernmental memorandum on GLONASS. Later in the day Putin is to meet with (Belarus President Alexander) Lukashenko". Ushakov said a third meeting would be with President Serge Sargsyan of Armenia.