Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich on his 60th birthday, during the informal CIS summit, which opened today in the famous Livadia Palace in Yalta. President Yanukovich already celebrated his birthday on Friday, and today he will repeat the celebration with the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
President Medvedev wished the Ukrainian President health and "every success in the hard task of being a president". "I hope that Ukraine under your direction will develop as a strong, stable and prosperous state, having reliable partners such as those who are now gathered around this table," added Medvedev, ITAR-TASS reports.
During the opening ceremony Yanukovich thanked his distinguished guests for supporting his idea of a round-table meeting "that doesn't have any sharp corners". Issues of economic cooperation of the CIS states are due to be discussed.
