MOSCOW, JUNE 3, (RIA Novosti) - On June 3 Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov is to attend a session of the Council of CIS Heads of Government in Tbilisi. He will also negotiate with President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia, the country's Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli and Ukraine's Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko, journalists learned at the Russian Government's press service. Talking to RIA Novosti, a source inside the Russian Government noted that the Council session's agenda had 33 items. However, experts have already coordinated most issues, such as a protocol on the stage-by-stage removal of intra-CIS trade restrictions. According to the source, this heralds a gradual switch-over to a free-trade zone.
"It is intended to discuss economic-interaction issues with Georgia's President and Prime Minister," a well-informed source inside the Russian delegation told RIA Novosti.
"Acute political issues, such as the functioning of Russian military bases in Georgia, have now been removed. No other pressing and unsolved problems exist. We expect constructive talks making it possible to discuss economic issues," the agency's interlocutor added.
"Mikhail Fradkov is to hold brief, albeit detailed, talks with Julia Timoshenko in Tbilisi. These talks will be devoted to the implementation of statements by Russian and Ukrainian Presidents on establishing an inter-state Russian-Ukrainian commission," the source noted.
Fradkov and Timoshenko are to discuss possible Ukrainian deprivatization that affects the interests of Russian investors.
"The Russian Government is voicing a clear-cut stand on this issue. We are not requesting any special privileges for Russia. But we would like Ukraine to treat Russian investors in line with Ukrainian legislation," the agency's interlocutor said.
"Quite possibly, Russian and Ukrainian Prime Ministers will discuss the deadline of Timoshenko's possible Moscow visit. Her Moscow visit was recently put off by mutual agreement. However, both sides are likely to once again discuss this issue in Tbilisi," the source added.
"Those attending the session of the Council of CIS Heads of Government are to sign about 20 documents," officials at the CIS Executive Committee's press service told RIA Novosti.
