DUSHANBE, October 20, 2011, Asia-Plus – The issue of admission of Tajikistan to the Customs Union may be considered only after admission of Kyrgyzstan to it, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced at a news conference in St. Petersburg on October 19 following a meeting of heads of government from member nations of the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC).
Russian media outlets report Putin noted that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have expressed interest in joining the Customs Union. “But Tajikistan cannot do this for understandable reason – it does not have common border with the Customs Union member nations but if Kyrgyzstan makes this step, Tajikistan will also be on the agenda [because it has common border with Kyrgyzstan],” Russian premier was quoted as saying.
Putin noted that the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space (CEE) were open for other nations.
We will recall that Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have announced that they are prepared to admit a fourth member to their CIS Customs Union — Kyrgyzstan.
Acting Kyrgyz Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov said a decision had been made to admit Kyrgyzstan at a meeting of the prime ministers from the Eurasian Economic Community on October 19.
A working group for Kyrgyzstan”s accession to the Customs Union will soon be set up. No date for formal entry was announced.
Kyrgyz officials have repeatedly spoken of the need to join the Customs Union but some have expressed doubts that the country would be ready by 2012.
