Putin arrives in Bishkek to attend informal CSTO summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, Tuesday to take part in the informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that Putin was expected to hold separate bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Ushakov said the summit was expected to discuss the developing situation in Afghanistan as US-led international forces prepare to withdraw in 2014. Atambaev said on May 27 that he and Rahmon planned to propose at the summit the construction of a railroad that would connect Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, before moving on to Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. The CSTO includes Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, and Armenia.