Putin, Nazarbayev meet in Alma Ata

Russian and Kazakh Presidents Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbayev held a routine meeting in Kazakhstan's southern capital. They arrived there from Astana on board the Russian leader's plane.

At first the Kazakh president thanked his Russian counterpart for agreeing to continue bilateral consultations in Alma Ata after the yesterday's summits of the Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Astana.

According to Vladimir Putin, Russia and Kazakhstan are implementing major economic projects.

Moreover, the sides have big plans in oil and gas and energy spheres. The implementation of these projects will bring Kazakhstan to foreign markets.

The Russian president proposed a detailed discussion of the Russian-Belarussian-Ukrainian-Kazakh common economic space and further moves in this sphere. Vladimir Putin reported on his forthcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, which would focus on this issue, as well.

In his words, a big package of documents on the common economic space formation can be coordinated and signed by the end of 2004 due to the effective expert activities.

According to Nursultan Nazarabayev, he always supported rapid development of the common economic space, which is beneficial for all countries. Independent states have common interests within this framework and promote other integration processes on the post-Soviet space.

Vladimir Putin gives much attention to common economic space issues and helps to achieve progress in this sphere, Nursultan Nazarabayev said.