Saturday, June 13, 2009

International Relations: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan to create customs union

Itar-Tass reports Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will complete the creation of a customs union by the middle of 2011, Russian Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Saturday.

After that the three countries will begin accession talks with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to join it together within the customs union.

“The mechanisms of talks between the three countries and the WTO has not been determined yet,” Kudrin said.

He expressed confidence that 90 percent of what Russia has achieved at the talks with the WTO will be included in the new agreement.

“Russia conducted negotiations on reasonable enough conditions,” he added.

Kudrin believes that “the position of Kazakhstan and Belarus will be close to the position of Russia,” adding that this will require new protocols.
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
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