Ukraine, Azerbaijan leaders not to attend CIS summit Friday

The presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan will not attend the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Kyrgyzstan on Friday, the Central Asian state`s envoy to the post-Soviet alliance said Thursday, RIA Novosti reported. Lidiya Imanaliyeva said Ukraine would be represented by National Security and Defense Council officials, and Azerbaijan by its prime minister. Imanaliyeva said Azerbaijan`s leader, Ilkham Aliyev, was sending his prime minister as he was campaigning to win a second term in the October 15 presidential elections. Kyrgyzstan holds the organization`s rotating presidency this year. The CIS... [read full story]