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CIS Summit Program Changed Due to Tragedy in Barents Sea
The program of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit scheduled for August 18-19 was changed due to the tragic sinking of a Russian submarine in the Barents Sea, with the entertaining part of it replaced by more working meetings, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Friday.
The heads of the CIS decided to refrain from the entertainment program, which was scheduled for the participants and guests of the summit, the news agency cited Press Secretary of Ukrainian President Oleksander Martynenko as saying.
In particular, the CIS leaders will not attend the international music festival "Yalta-2000", the press secretary said.
"The summit participants believe that while a struggle is underway for the lives of the submarine crew, participation in any entertaining events would be unmoral", he added.
Martynenro noted that the summit would be strictly of "a working character" and the two-day stay of the CIS heads of states in Crimea, Ukraine, will be packed with working meetings.
"Changes in the program will allow the heads of the CIS states to discuss a number of additional questions and make their stay in Crimea even more efficient", the press secretary added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is also attending the CIS meeting, has decided to return to Moscow later Friday due to the submarine tragedy.
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