VIKTOR KHRISTENKO: THERE ARE NEITHER OBSTACLES TO NOR ANY APPROXIMATE DATE OF ARMENIA'S ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION
by Arthur Yernjakyan
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=3D463860-46F9-11E3-8BE50EB7C0D21663
Wednesday, November 6, 18:36
There are neither obstacles to nor any approximate date of Armenia's
accession to the Customs Union, Viktor Khristenko, Head of the Eurasian
Economic Commission Collegium told media in Yerevan, on 5 November,
after signing a Memorandum of Deepening Cooperation between the
Eurasian Economic Commission and Armenia. On the Armenian party,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan signed the document.
In response to ArmInfo's question about at least approximate date of
Armenia's accession to the CU, Khristenko just said that the process
is not easy and needs tangible preparatory measures and adjustment
of the national legislation.
"Therefore, I prefer not to give any date," he said. Khristenko
said that the working group for Armenia's accession to the Customs
Union must be set up by 20 November at the meeting of the Council's
Commission.
He underlined that neither Kazakhstan nor Belarus create obstacles
to accession of Armenia and other CIS countries to the CU.
"I see no obstacles on that way. These are no obstacles, but a desire
to make the process more robust and avoid measures at the expense of
the quality. There are no unresolvable issues for Armenia's accession
to the CU. Neither there are any political issues torpedoing the
process," Khristenko said.
He said that 36 countries have already come out for cooperation with
the Customs Union. "India has recently expressed desire to launch
advanced cooperation with the CU. Certain measures are currently
being taken to launch such advanced cooperation with Vietnam, New
Zealand, European Free Trade Association. We will start similar work
with Switzerland," Khristenko said. He outlined that Turkey is not
among the above 36 countries, despite Kazakh President's suggestion
to invite Turkey to the CU. "Turkey is not among those countries.
Consequently, the suggestion is not studied," he said.
To recall, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia adopted a
decision to sign the given Memorandum at the meeting of the Supreme
Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk on 24 October. Earlier on 3
September in Moscow, at the meeting with RF President Vladimir Putin,
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan expressed an intention to join
the CU and take all the necessary practical steps to this end, as well
as participate in formation of the Eurasian Economic Union in future.
by Arthur Yernjakyan
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=3D463860-46F9-11E3-8BE50EB7C0D21663
Wednesday, November 6, 18:36
There are neither obstacles to nor any approximate date of Armenia's
accession to the Customs Union, Viktor Khristenko, Head of the Eurasian
Economic Commission Collegium told media in Yerevan, on 5 November,
after signing a Memorandum of Deepening Cooperation between the
Eurasian Economic Commission and Armenia. On the Armenian party,
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan signed the document.
In response to ArmInfo's question about at least approximate date of
Armenia's accession to the CU, Khristenko just said that the process
is not easy and needs tangible preparatory measures and adjustment
of the national legislation.
"Therefore, I prefer not to give any date," he said. Khristenko
said that the working group for Armenia's accession to the Customs
Union must be set up by 20 November at the meeting of the Council's
Commission.
He underlined that neither Kazakhstan nor Belarus create obstacles
to accession of Armenia and other CIS countries to the CU.
"I see no obstacles on that way. These are no obstacles, but a desire
to make the process more robust and avoid measures at the expense of
the quality. There are no unresolvable issues for Armenia's accession
to the CU. Neither there are any political issues torpedoing the
process," Khristenko said.
He said that 36 countries have already come out for cooperation with
the Customs Union. "India has recently expressed desire to launch
advanced cooperation with the CU. Certain measures are currently
being taken to launch such advanced cooperation with Vietnam, New
Zealand, European Free Trade Association. We will start similar work
with Switzerland," Khristenko said. He outlined that Turkey is not
among the above 36 countries, despite Kazakh President's suggestion
to invite Turkey to the CU. "Turkey is not among those countries.
Consequently, the suggestion is not studied," he said.
To recall, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia adopted a
decision to sign the given Memorandum at the meeting of the Supreme
Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk on 24 October. Earlier on 3
September in Moscow, at the meeting with RF President Vladimir Putin,
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan expressed an intention to join
the CU and take all the necessary practical steps to this end, as well
as participate in formation of the Eurasian Economic Union in future.