Kazakhstan, Astana, April 2 / Trend A.Maratov /
Kiev will host the CIS Foreign Ministerial meeting on April 8, CIS Executive Committee Chairman and Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said following his meeting with Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev.
"During the meeting, we have discussed preparations for the ministerial meeting in Kiev", Lebedev said. The meeting also discussed a plan for celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Commonwealth.
"The All-Russia Exhibition Centre, Moscow will host an exhibition of achievements of the CIS countries from June 28 to July. Then, Minsk will host a scientific conference and Kiev will held a forum of scientific and creative intelligentsia. The CIS countries' leaders will meet in Moscow in December, which will be the crown of all events," he added.
Lebedev expressed a hope that presidential elections in Kazakhstan will take place peacefully.
"We hope and believe that the Kazakh citizens' right for free expression will be ensured," he said.
The first stage of the presidential campaign - candidate registration - was closed on March 2.
The campaign, which will end two days before the election day, was launched on March 3.
Four candidates passed registration at the Kazakh Central ElectionCommission (CEC) and will continue to participate in the snap presidential elections scheduled for April 3. The candidates are Nursultan Nazarbayev, Communist Zhambyl Ahmetbekov, leader of the Patriots Party, Senator Gani Kasimov and Tabiyat Ecological Union leader Mels Eleusizov.
Experts believe Nazarbayev might easily win the election. Nazarbayev, who has been in power for over 20 years, is supported by about 90 percent of the population.