Ukraine wants to cooperate with Belarusian-Kazakh-Russian Customs Union - premier
KYIV. July 26 (Interfax) - Ukraine has not yet abandoned its idea of a 3+1 format of cooperation with the Belarusian-Kazakh-Russian Customs Union, but it is also closely studying Russia's proposals on this account, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.
"We are currently studying the record of the Customs Union's work to see its positive aspects. We have proposed our own formula of work with the Customs Union. Unfortunately, our partners have so far not accepted this formula, but we have not scrapped this idea yet. We want to work with the Customs Union, and this is a reality. And therefore, we are closely studying Russian President Putin's latest proposal and are thinking deeply about it," Azarov said in an interview published in the Russian newspaper Zavtra.
Azarov complained that the Ukrainian opposition categorically rejects the idea of Ukraine's closer ties with the Customs Union. "They don't even want to hear us or talk with us. Anything that makes us even a little bit closer with Russia and with Belarus is fiercely rejected by our opposition, which doesn't even want to discuss these issues. This is what they say: if we move toward the Customs Union, then we close the path to Europe to ourselves, while we are dreaming of being in Europe," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said following a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Yalta on July 13 that Russia and its Customs Union partners would not coerce other countries, including Ukraine, to join the Customs Union. He said at the same time that it is very difficult to amend trade agreements within organizations like the European Union or the Customs Union.
