Putin calls for speeding up talks on establishing FTAs between EAEU, other countries
SOCHI. Oct 11 (Interfax) - The negotiating process addressing the setting up of free trade areas (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries and applicant countries should be accelerated, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"It is necessary to speed up the negotiating processes already underway so as to establishing free trade areas with those countries, with which we have agreed to do such work and with which the committee has already been doing this work," Putin said at an expanded Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting on Wednesday.
The EAEU leaders attach great significance to the elaboration of the drafts of a cooperation agreement between the union and these countries, he said.
The heads of union member countries held a narrow-format meeting, having discussed the issues behind closed doors prior to the expanded meeting.
Issues related to promoting the Eurasian Economic Union's stance on the international arena and the development of ties between the union and other countries should be closely addressed, Putin said.
"In this context, we view the establishment of closer cooperation with CIS partners, who are not EAEU members, as important. Today, we have quite thoroughly discussed this and that determining an observer status is necessary," the Russian president said.