Customs Union to sign cooperation documents with Armenia in 2013 - Khristenko
MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - The Customs Union plans to sign cooperation agreements with Armenia in early 2013, Eurasian Economic Commission (EurAsEC) Board Chairman Viktor Khristenko said.
"We have just had a working visit to Armenia, and in meetings with the Armenian president and prime minister, when we discussed cooperation formats, we agreed that we would compile a cooperation document between the Armenian government and EurAsEC. We are working on that document now. Probably it will be singed early next year," he said.
Earlier, EurAsEC and Ukraine signed trade and technical regulation memorandums of cooperation. "On the basis of the agreement on a free trade zone [within the framework of the CIS], EurAsEC is now building advanced relations and a systemic dialogue with Ukraine and is preparing to do so with Armenia," he said.
Asked about future agreements with Armenia, Khristenko said they too would be based within the scope of the Eurasian Economic Commission. "Our scope right now is all that is associated with trade policy, tariff and non-tariff measures, technical regulation measures, protective measures and so on," he said.
Earlier on Monday, Khristenko and CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev signed a memorandum of cooperation between EurAsEC and the CIS Executive Committee. The document covers cooperation in the following areas: economics and finance, statistics, trade policy and simplifying trade procedures, technical regulation, standardization and uniformity of measurements, customs policy, transport and freight, migration policy, investment policy, competition policy, energy cooperation, industrial and agricultural cooperation.
Cooperation will be maintained through authorized representatives. By mutual agreement the representatives will take part in events held within the framework of the CIS and the Customs Union. Consultations will be held at least once a year to discuss joint progress in specific areas of their joint cooperation.