CIS Presidents discuss financial turmoil

Tackling the fallout from the global financial crisis is topping the agenda at the CIS summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which begins Friday.

President of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, told Itar-Tass that the strategy of CIS economic development till 2020 is the key topic of the summit.  

Also on the agenda is co-operation over security, with fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal migration all priorities.

There will be no Mikhail Saakashvili at the event, after the Georgian President announced in August that his country is withdrawing from the organisation.

Later on Friday, some of the leaders will gather for the Eurasia Economic Community meeting, where they will discuss member states working more closely on cross-border customs regulations.