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CIS free trade zone agrt does not bind Ukraine to join Customs Union

The CIS agreement on a free trade zone does not bind Ukraine to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov

KIEV, October 21 (Itar-Tass) —— The CIS agreement on a free trade zone does not bind Ukraine to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov said on Friday on his Facebook page.

“The text of the agreement will soon be published and everyone will see it for themselves,” his message reads.

As for a potential similar agreement with the European Union, “we have repeatedly said we are ready to sign such agreement with the European Union,” he said.

He expressed bewilderment over the fact that “only in Ukraine cooperation with European Union countries is set off against cooperation with CIS countries.” In this connection, the Ukrainian prime minister reminded that the European Union accounts for a third of his country’s trade turnover, while CIS countries – more than 40 percent.

“Along with common rules, trade must be guided by common technical regulations, in this case, a great number of problems in mutual trade can be settled,” he said. “This is why I instructed to look at possible joining the regulations that are in force within the Customs Union.”