9 Dec 2010 19:42

Customs Union model should extend to all EurAsEC members - Medvedev

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed the process of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) members nearing the formation of the Common Economic Space (CES).

"Our movement toward the Eurasian Common Economic Space has been quite successful," he said at a session of the EurAsEC member states in Moscow on Thursday.

Three documents were signed at a tripartite meeting between the heads of state of the Customs Union member states, Medvedev said.

"Our Eurasian Economic Community is beginning to move toward a Eurasian Union. A whole host of economies, namely, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, are integrated to a higher extent. It is that model that should extend to all EurAsEC nations," the president said.

According to one of the provisions of the declaration signed by the three heads of states, "the relevant formations of the Common Economic Space and the future Eurasian Union are open to other nations joining," Medvedev said.

This is very important as it essentially "lays down the program of action for the next few years," he said.

"This is real economic integration: honest, transparent and, hopefully, [will be] quite profitable for our nations," the Russian president said.

kk