Ukraine to Receive Observer Status Within Eurasian Customs Union

KYIV, Ukraine, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Ukraine will receive an observer status within the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council - the governing body of the Customs Union (CU) of Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus.  Such agreement was reached on May 29, at the Astana meeting of the leaders of the Customs Union countries and President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. The observer status will not contradict the terms of signing the Association Agreement with the European Union, reported Ukrainian officials.

The observer status will allow Ukraine to attend open meetings of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, public meetings of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission without the right to vote, the board meetings of the Eurasian Economic Commission without the right to participate in decision-making, and send its proposals to the Eurasian Economic Commission. Ukraine will also gain access to the documents produced by the organization.

The respective memorandum will be signed on May 31, 2013 in Minsk during the CIS Heads of Government meeting, confirmed President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukraine will be able to participate in the activities of the CU immediately after signing the memorandum, stated the First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

The official paperwork on the status of Ukraine will have to be drafted by the next meeting of the Supreme Economic Council in the Fall 2013, stressed President Nazarbayev in Astana.

In the meantime, Ukrainian government focuses on fulfilling the criteria required for signing the Association Agreement and the free trade zone agreement with the European Union. This was stated by President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych during today's meeting with Vice-President of the European Parliament Jacek Protasiewicz, reports UKRINFORM.

"We pay special attention to the dialogue with the European Union and the European Parliament and advocate for the strengthening of these relations. Ukrainian government's efforts today are aimed at implementation of criteria that are needed to sign the Association Agreement and Free Trade Agreement," said President Yanukovych.

He stressed that Ukraine expected positive decision on signing the Association Agreement at the Vilnius summit. The further economic and social development of Ukraine is inseparably linked to the issue of European integration, concluded Ukrainian leader.