By empty (2/24/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

President Putin and the presidents of Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan held an unexpected meeting in the Moscow suburb of Novo-Ogarevo on 23 February, after which they announced that they had reached agreement in principle on the creation of a \"joint economic space\" covering the four countries, Western and Russian news agencies reported. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said the countries will prepare an agreement on the project by September and take measures to coordinate their economic policies and legislative environments. Putin said the four countries have agreed to create a supranational commission on trade and tariffs that will be based in Kyiv and will be initially headed by a representative of Kazakhstan.

By empty (2/24/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Speaking at a national conference of army officers in Moscow on 21 February, President Vladimir Putin said the current geopolitical situation in the world is complicated and that the global correlation of forces \"is visibly imbalanced,\" ORT and RTR reported. He added that a new international-security configuration has yet to be created. \"We cannot overlook the increasing aggressiveness of very influential forces in some countries of the world and the diminishing effectiveness of international security and conflict-resolution institutions,\" Putin said.

By empty (2/23/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov has authorized new regulations for foreign citizens entering and staying in the country and exit visas for Turkmen citizens, a source with the Turkmen government told Interfax on Friday. Starting on March 1, entry visa applications will be forwarded from Turkmen diplomatic missions abroad and the Foreign Ministry consular department to a special visa control and issuance commission. This will be responsible for checking the applications and making a decision on issuing or denying a visa.