Lukashenko confident of level playing field for businesses within Common Economic Space
MINSK. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Negotiations aimed at creating a level playing field for businesses within the Common Economic Space of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan have been successful, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
"Negotiations are under way with Russia today. I have been told that they have been quite successful. Russia is determined and committed to deliver on its promises given when the Common Economic Space was formed. I mean equal terms. Russia is ready for it," Lukashenko said at a press conference for Russian media outlets in Minsk on Friday.
"What common economic space idea are you talking about if the terms vary?" he said.
This topic is particularly relevant to Belarus, he added.
As far as Kazakhstan is concerned, its main requirement is "the absence of obstacles to the movement of resources," Lukashenko said.
"It will not be normal, if they want to deliver [energy resources] to Belarus and we reach such an agreement with Kazakhs, but they will not be able to send anything because Russia will block these deliveries. They cannot bring oil [to Belarus] because the pipelines are occupied. Delivering a tractor [to Kazakhstan] is twice as expensive as making it," the president said.
"But these issues are being sorted out," he said.
The Common Economic Space must guarantee the totally free movement of commodities, services, people and capital, Lukashenko said.
"We are moving toward this goal," he said.
