Common Economic Space trade bloc Kazan, Russia, Aug 27, SPA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin onSaturday met with the leaders of Belarus, Ukraine andKazakhstan to discuss their nascent trade bloc that isunder pressure from members' competing interests, AP reported. Presidents Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, NursultanNazarbayev of Kazakhstan and Alexander Lukashenko ofBelarus joined Putin for the discussions one day after asummit of leaders from the Commonwealth of IndependentStates, a loose alliance made up of ex-Soviet states. In opening remarks, Putin said the leaders would discuss«some problems connected with the implementation of plansfor building the Common Economic Space,» which aims atcreating a free-trade zone among the four countries. Both the CIS and the Common Economic Space are understrain as some former Soviet republics look to move out ofRussia's economic and political shadow and join NATO andthe European Union.--mor1423 Local Time 1123 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/286644