Observer status in Customs Union does not go together with financial benefits - Ushakov
MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - Observer status in the Customs Union will not bring any financial benefits to the holder, said Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. If financial benefits are to be gained the applicant is to assume obligations in all their entirety, he said at a press briefing in Moscow.
"It's probably fun observing integration processes, and economic and trade ties broadening between the three members. But merely watching will not bring any financial benefits to the observer country's citizens," he said.
If a country wants to engage in real cooperation and in getting real dividends from the integration process, it must assume the obligations and rules of conduct shared by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, in all their entirety, he also said. "In other words, a country is to go deep into this process, without which the benefits obviously sought, will not arrive. This is what I can say about observer status," Ushakov said.
He also said that the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council convened recently, where the Customs Union member-countries' presidents discussed an open agenda and the presidents of Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan were present.
"Atambayev and Yanukovych closely observed the format of the meeting and listened to the Customs Union leaders openly discussing their differing approaches," he said.
"But watching is an interesting process, too," he remarked.