CIS Daily Bulletin, March 12

Below is a summary of events in the Commonwealth of Independent States on March 12:

Azerbaijan:

* Russia hopes to continue using the Gabala anti-missile radar in Azerbaijan after the lease agreement expires in 2012, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said

* The third Caspian summit is due to be held in Azerbaijan's capital of Baku, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said

Belarus:

* Belarus has received a $500 million loan from Russia, a spokesman for the country's central bank said

Georgia:

* The office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Tbilisi will terminate its work by June 2009, the director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center said

* Opposition parties in Georgia have accused the country's authorities of intentionally sparking a scandal over the 2009 Eurovision song contest, due to be held in Moscow, and said this could harm Georgia's image

Ukraine:

* Russia will not seek reparations from Ukraine for importing less natural gas than the volume stipulated in the contract with Russia's Gazprom, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said

* Ukraine's Party of Regions has reported a massive non-payment of pensions in the country and has demanded the government repay the debts, the party said in a statement