Khazret Sovmen, president of the Republic of Adygeya, met in Maikop on 5 March with members of the executive committee of the International Cherkess Association, which is campaigning to prevent the merger of the republic with Krasnodar Krai, according to AdygeaNatPress as quoted by Kavkazweb.net on 7 March. Sovmen was quoted as repeating his earlier opposition to any moves that negatively impact on the political situation in the region, and as terming the proposed merger \"regressive\" and a threat to interethnic relations in an \"explosive\" region. On 5 March, the International Cherkess Association drafted an appeal to the Russian leadership, circulated by kavkazweb.net on 7 March, asking that the existing law on Russian citizenship be amended to enable Cherkess, Adygs, and Kabardians living outside Russia to acquire Russian citizenship after living in Russia for one year, and without forfeiting their existing citizenship, which would facilitate their settlement in their ancestral homeland. The appeal also requested that Moscow clarify its position with regard to the creation of a mega-region comprising Krasnodar Krai and Adygeya. (RFE/RL)