DUSHANBE, November 30, 2009, Asia-Plus — A session of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) that was held in Minsk, Belarus on November 27 considered more than 20 issues, according to presidential press service.
The EAEC heads of state, in particular, considered issues related to creation of the Customs Union and unified economic space for the EAEC member nations, activities of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the EAEC Anti-crisis Fund, as well as regulation of labor migration and mitigation of effects of the global financial and economic crisis.
Speaking at the session, President Emomali Rahmon supported creation of the Customs Union and the unified economic space.
He noted that implementation of hydroelectricity projects, establishment of a road connection between Asia and Europe, modernization of infrastructure and other strategic measures taken by Tajikistan were significant contribution of Tajikistan to expansion of cooperation between the EAEC states. Tajik president called on the EAEC member nations to invest in projects being of regional significance.
Emomali Rahmon stressed that Tajikistan came out for uniting economic opportunities of member nations of the Community and removing artificial obstacles on the way of free movement of citizens, commodities and services as well as expanding cultural ties as main factors to ensure real integration.
In the meantime, Russia’s new agency RIA Novosti reported that the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia signed a package of deals on November 27 to create a customs union with common tariffs, paving the way for a single economic space.
“The common customs territory starts functioning as of July 1 (2010) in Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan,” Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in Minsk after a meeting of the three ex-Soviet states” leaders. “Our end goal is to create a single economic space, and the Customs Union is a major step toward it,” Lukashenko said.
Speaking at a news conference after the EAEC Interstate Council meeting, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the customs union is a new phase in cooperation between the countries. “We have entered a new phase of cooperation,” Medvedev said. “This is an extremely important and long-awaited event that has taken place after very complex negotiations.” Medvedev said other former Soviet countries are welcome to join. But he dismissed parallels to an accord that led to the breakup of the Soviet Union, which was also signed in Belarus.
Tajikistan will for some time be an observer in the union, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Kyrgyzstan would work to join the customs union.
The Kazakh leader said the customs union will bring Russia an additional $400 billion in revenue and over $16 billion to Kazakhstan and Belarus. Nursultan Nazarbayev said the union could help the countries take key positions on the global energy and grain markets.
The countries” aggregate GDP is $2 trillion, and their trade turnover is estimated at $900 billion.
The new deal could delay Russia”s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), RIA Novosti said. Moscow earlier said it could seek membership in the WTO together with Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The agreement on the Customs Union will come into force on January 1, when the three countries will start using common foreign trade tariffs, but all taxes are to be coordinated by July.
