BISHKEK, August 30, /ITAR-TASS/. The government of Kyrgyzstan approved on Saturday a set of laws necessary for the accession of the Central Asian country to the Customs Union, comprising Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the government’s press service said.
“A governmental session chaired by Prime Minister Dzhoomart Otorbayev was held in Bishkek and was dedicated to the approval of set of draft laws necessary for the republic’s accession to the Customs Union and the common economic space of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia,” the press service said in its statement adding that a total “of 21 bills were approved.”
The press service said that prior to the session on Saturday, working groups held daily discussions within the last three months on the technical issues concerning the accession to the Customs Union.
“The package of bills has been unanimously approved by the government,” the statement said. “The republic in fact completely fulfilled all its obligations undertaken within the frames of the Road Map on the accession of the country to the Customs Union.”
Addressing the governmental session on Saturday, Otorbayev said the approval of the draft bills on the accession to the Customs Union was a milestone decision for Kyrgyzstan.
“We are making a historical decision for our country today,” the prime minister said. “We have unanimously approved the whole package of the draft laws necessary for the country to join the Customs Union and will send it today to the parliament.”
Speaking over a week ago at a meeting of the inter-departmental commission for the country’s entry into the Moscow-led trade bloc, Otorbayev said that Kyrgyzstan’s accession roadmap should stipulate deadlines consistent with the republic’s intention to join the common economic space by January 1, 2015.
The roadmap approved by all interested parties stipulates that Kyrgyzstan will join the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus and the common economic space by January 1, 2015. Considering the state of the Kyrgyz economy, Bishkek insists on preferences on 300 positions.
The Kyrgyz government made a decision to join the Customs Union in the spring of 2011. Six months later, the ex-Soviet republic filed an official request for accession. The Kyrgyz government is currently bringing its legislation into compliance with the requirements of the Customs Union and the common economic space.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are also currently at work on ratifying the treaty on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union. It was signed by the presidents of three countries on May 29 in Kazakhstan’s Astana.
The Eurasian Economic Union, which envisages the free movement of goods, services, capital and workforce and is based on the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, will become operational from January 1, 2015.