Trade and conflict agitate the CIS

By Eve-Marie Akers Chisinau

It's the first time for five years that Moldova has hosted a summit for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The main attraction: Shevardnadze and Putin

The last time the event took place in Moldova's capital Chisinau, a series of acrimonious rows left the future of the union in doubt.

Today, the main attraction has been the meeting between Russia's President Putin and Georgia's Eduard Shevardnadze.

Over the past few weeks Vladimir Putin has issued a series of threats to come and destroy Chechen rebels he believes to be in the Pankisi Gorge area of Georgia, if Georgia fails to do the job itself.

Free trade

When asked about his intentions at the summit on Monday he stood by his words, but suggested they would not be necessary if Georgia's leader, Eduard Shevardnadze stays true to a new agreement on joint border controls.

Mr Voronin wants to move towards the EU in step with Ukraine's Leonid Kuchma

The economy topped the agenda, including another attempt to breathe life into a CIS free-trade zone, the subject of years of discussions.

Long-derided as a body that passes agreements on paper, but fails to implement them, the CIS has now agreed to run checks on member countries in between official meetings in an attempt to ensure that decisions are carried out.

While several member states, including Moldova, are looking for closer ties with the European Union, they are also pushing for improved trade links with their former Soviet counterparts.

EU aspirations

Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin has expressed interest in joining the EU, and in the CIS publication "Integration", his country is described as a "bridge between the West and the East".

He has also recently agreed to the establishment of a European Integration Committee within his government.

President Voronin urged fellow CIS members, such as Ukraine, to move as one in their bid to join the EU.

But entry into Europe is out of the question unless President Voronin can resolve a number of democratic and economic problems within Moldova - Europe's poorest country.

Realistically, EU membership is at best many years away.