Belarus and Kazakhstan hold similar approach
MINSK. May 14 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus and Kazakhstan see eye-to-eye on the development of integration processes in the former Soviet Union, including the functioning of the Common Economic Space.
"As for the Common Economic Space, here we hold absolutely identical views," he said at a Monday meeting in Minsk with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
"The time will soon come when the idea [of establishing a Eurasian union] you expressed some 15 years ago will not only assume shape but get concrete contents," Lukashenko said to Nazarbayev.
He stressed that the two countries do not have outstanding political problems. The sides act similarly in the economy, he said.
Lukashenko thanked Nazarbayev for keeping his word in monitoring the implementation of previous decisions. He said this permitted the two countries to approach trade turnover of $1 billion. "It is third place in trade with Belarus after Russia and Ukraine. If Kazakhstan were located closer, like Ukraine, for instance, the volume of trade would have been much greater," he said.
Nazarbayev said that Belarus is a strategic partner, close friend and ally for Kazakhstan.
"We attach great expectations to the Customs Union, the Common Economic Space which brings our countries even closer. There are no closer allies throughout the former Soviet Union than Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan," he said.
