Mr Putin informed the members of the Presidium about the results of his visits to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The President stressed that the countries of the former Soviet Union are Russia’s closest allies. At the same time, recent events in Central Asia and on the CIS’ southern borders call for the Russian leadership’s close attention, all the more so as a large number of Russian speakers live in the region.
The meeting approved the draft agenda for the first full session of the State Council, which will take place on November 22. The working groups on state-building, economic development, local self-government and state symbols presented their reports.