From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Oct 10 2000 - 09:49:35 EDT
CIS CUSTOMS UNION PREMIERS MEET IN ASTANA
Meeting in Astana on 6 October, the prime ministers of the five member states
of the CIS Customs Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) initialed a treaty establishing a
Eurasian Economic Community (modeled after the EEC) on the
basis of the customs union, Interfax reported. That treaty
will be formally signed by the presidents of the five states
at a summit in Astana on 10 October. The brainchild of
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev, the new
organization will be empowered to represent the interests of
member states in discussions with other countries and
international organizations about questions related to
international trade and customs policy, according to
"Nezavisimaya gazeta" of 6 October. While its initial focus
will be purely economic, observers view the new union as a
first step towards broader integration between the five
states. As such, it could contribute to realization of
Nazarbaev's grandiose 1994 vision of a new Eurasian Union.
The five premiers also agreed to draft an agreement on visa-
free travel between their respective countries, Asia Plus-
Blitz reported on 9 October. LF
|
