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Putin seeks G8 debt relief for ex-Soviet republics
AFX Europe (Focus); Jun 13, 2005
NOVO-OGARYEVO (AFX) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called
for a reduction of the international debt owed by the poorest of the
former Soviet republics and signalled Russia would put the issue on the
Group of Eight agenda when it assumes the G8 chairmanship next year.
"For Britain, it is quite important to know the situation in the
African countries," Putin said at a news conference following talks
with British Prime Minister Tony Blair who is touring member countries
ahead of a G8 summit in Scotland in July.
"It is equally important for us to address the situation" in the
ex-Soviet republics that make up the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS), Putin said, adding: "Hopefully next year we will be
able to impartially assess the situation in these countries with
our colleagues."
The Russian leader admitted that relations between Moscow and a number
of the former Soviet republics it once dominated were not always
"easy-going," but said these countries nonetheless "want our support
and the support of the international community."
Several -- specifically Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia,
Georgia in the Caucasus and Moldova which is sandwiched between Ukraine
and Romania -- objectively qualify as heavily indebted developing
countries in most urgent need of help from international lenders,
he said.
"We need not turn these CIS states into a battlefield. Rather we
should transport this space into a space of cooperation and we need
to do our best to provide assistance to these countries in developing
democracy and enhancing their economic basis."
The International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and other international lending
institutions have focused in recent years on poverty and debt control
in ex-Soviet republics through an initiative launched in 2002 known
as the CIS-7.
The countries that are the object of the plan are: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
AFX Europe (Focus); Jun 13, 2005
NOVO-OGARYEVO (AFX) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called
for a reduction of the international debt owed by the poorest of the
former Soviet republics and signalled Russia would put the issue on the
Group of Eight agenda when it assumes the G8 chairmanship next year.
"For Britain, it is quite important to know the situation in the
African countries," Putin said at a news conference following talks
with British Prime Minister Tony Blair who is touring member countries
ahead of a G8 summit in Scotland in July.
"It is equally important for us to address the situation" in the
ex-Soviet republics that make up the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS), Putin said, adding: "Hopefully next year we will be
able to impartially assess the situation in these countries with
our colleagues."
The Russian leader admitted that relations between Moscow and a number
of the former Soviet republics it once dominated were not always
"easy-going," but said these countries nonetheless "want our support
and the support of the international community."
Several -- specifically Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia,
Georgia in the Caucasus and Moldova which is sandwiched between Ukraine
and Romania -- objectively qualify as heavily indebted developing
countries in most urgent need of help from international lenders,
he said.
"We need not turn these CIS states into a battlefield. Rather we
should transport this space into a space of cooperation and we need
to do our best to provide assistance to these countries in developing
democracy and enhancing their economic basis."
The International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and other international lending
institutions have focused in recent years on poverty and debt control
in ex-Soviet republics through an initiative launched in 2002 known
as the CIS-7.
The countries that are the object of the plan are: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.