Kyrgyzstan to Join Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Customs Union

Following the meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on October 8, the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev announced that Kyrgyzstan had decided to join the Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Customs Union.

Abdyldaev stated that working groups had already been established to facilitate the integration process.

Ever since the Customs Union was established in 2010, the three members have been actively working on integrating other countries, primarily Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Tajikistan.

In January 2012, the common economic space was officially established, allowing the free movement of trade, goods, persons and services within the union.

The ultimate goal is to establish a Eurasian Union, similar to the European Union, by 2015.

Prepared by: Masa Lopicic

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Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — international news and broadcast organization; the Journal of Turkish Weekly