Putin, CIS Defence Ministers Have "hearty, Outspoken Talk"

Russia's President Vladimir Putin received the Defence Ministers of Commonwealth of Independent States countries in a Kremlin conference today. He made an unbiased evaluation of military partnership within the CIS, highlighted its priorities, and described Russian military development blueprints, Sergei Ivanov, Russian Defence Minister, said to the media following the event. The international situation has put security into the foreground, and related issues will dominate the agenda at an upcoming Commonwealth summit, he added. "It was a hearty and outspoken talk," said Vladimir Shkidchenko, Ukraine's Defence Minister. President Putin received the latest information about activities of the CIS Defence Ministers' Council, and answered conferees' questions--in particular, to evaluate global developments and CIS countries' military partnership, Mr. Shkidchenko told the media.