YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states should make greater use of settlements in national currencies in order not to depend on outside influence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of CIS leaders today in Kyrgyzstan.

"Creation of a stable and independent from external influence financial infrastructure, as well as wider use of national currencies in mutual settlements should become  an important tool for further increasing trade operations and investment flows," TASS quoted him as saying.

Putin pointed out that in Russia's economy, for example, "the ruble is used most of all, but not only - the national currencies of other states are also used."  

"And we will contribute to this in every possible way, we will work very correctly with all our partners, I mean first of all our financial and economic structures and central banks," the Russian president assured. -0-