9 June 2009
Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan to accede to WTO as single customs area
MOSCOW, June 9 (BelTA) – Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan will join the World Trade Organization as a single customs area, says the statement of the Prime Ministers of the three countries adopted at the session of the EurAsEC Interstate Council held in Moscow at the level of heads of government on June 9. According to the statement, the process of acceding to the WTO has been impeding integration. Therefore a decision was taken to notify the World Trade Organization about the intention of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan to engage in the relevant negotiations. According to Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky, Belarus confirms its intention to join the organization, but now the country’s position will be coordinated with the other members of the Customs Union.БЕЛТА