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Armenian minister: Armenia can bring closer to Customs Union till New Year

MOSCOW, December 12, 4:26 /ITAR-TASS/. Armenia’s delegation will visit Moscow on Thursday, December 12, to discuss a roadmap of the country’s joining the Customs Union, Armenian First Deputy Economics Minister Karine Minasyan told Izvestia daily.

The delegation includes nine deputy ministers, including the deputy foreign minister, the deputy economy minister, the deputy agriculture minister, the deputy customs minister, the deputy tax minister and the deputy head of the Statistic Service. Russia’s delegation involves Eurasian Economic Commission Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics Tatyana Valovaya.

“Armenia’s European integration will only add the process for joining the Customs Union. It is built on international principles and with the use of global experience,” Minasyan said, adding “I wouldn’t talk about any divergences because the Union’s countries listen to our view.”

However, she said it was necessary to harmonise Armenia’s legislation with the rules of the Customs Union. For example, Yerevan should adopt the Customs Union Code related to the exchange of information on goods movement.

Armenia and Russia have no common borders that hamper trade contacts. Yerevan believes that this problem can be solved.

The EEC will gather on December 13 at the level of vice-premiers. The roadmap will be signed at a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 24, Izvestia reports.

In the beginning of December Yerevan has given a discount on the most sensitive positions - gas, oil products and diamonds. Armenia’s economy will benefit at least 140 million dollars when Russia cancels gas export duties.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s path is not too easy because of Kazakhstan and Belarus that are rather sceptical about joining a new member, which is at feud with Azerbaijan.

The Eurasian Economic Commission is set up under a decision of the Russian, Belarusian and Kazakhstani presidents at the end of 2011 as a permanent regular body of the Customs Union and the common economic space.

The organisation is not subordinated to any government. The EEC is led by Viktor Khristenko.