Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan may join the Eurasian Union

The Russian Minister on Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov informed that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are the most likely candidates to join Eurasian Union, if they fulfill the condition.

He noted that in recent years they achieved significant results in multilateral integration within the CIS format: a Treaty on Free Trade Zone was signed, Customs Union has stared operating and a common economic space was established. Now the sides are aimed at creation of the Eurasian Economic Union. The Union is open for other countries which share the goals and principles of the Eurasian integration and ready to implement them. Mr.Lavrov underlined that this first of all concerns their nearest neighbors, in particular, partners in the EurAsEc, including Tajikistan.

S. Lavrov also pointed out that Customs Union countries Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have agreed to move faster to deeper forms of integration, so that by 2015 to create a Eurasian Economic Union. During the summits the leaders of states have emphasized that other EurAsEc countries, in particular Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan can join Eurasian Economic Union at any step of the integration process. He noted that Tajik and Kyrgyz experts already participate in all discussions dedicated to the Free Trade Zone, the Common Economic Space and Eurasian Economic Union in the future perspective.

�It is important that Tajikistan authorities were informed on all the details of the integration process, so that they could evaluate all the benefits that Tajikistan can get from this Union and bring domestic law into the conformity with the objectives of integration, as Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan already did. I am sure that if a political decision will be made (and as far as I understand, President of Tajikistan has already made such a decision), then there is no doubt that beneficial forms for Tajikistan�s integration will be worked out�, S. Lavrov said.

As it was earlier reported on November 18, 2011 Presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed a declaration on the Eurasian economic integration, which stipulates creation of Eurasian Union by 2015 based on the already existing Customs Union and Common Economic Space.

Source: IA Regnum (www.regnum.ru)
Translated by: USAEEC CA/EE Office (www.usapeec.kz)
 

Date: 21 April 2012