Kyrgyzstan roadmap to join Russia-led Customs Union submitted to parliament

MOSCOW, May 23 /ITAR-TASS/ - Kyrgyzstan’s roadmap for joining the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan was approved by the government of Kyrgyzstan and was submitted to the national parliament for ratification, Prime Minister Dzhoomart Otorbayev said on Friday. “The issue of joining the Eurasian integration association is very important for Kyrgyzstan,” Otorbayev said in an interview with the Russian daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta. “During 18 months, Kyrgyzstan was developing an optimal roadmap jointly with the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Customs Union founding states for its accession to the Customs Union,” Otorbayev said, adding the parliament of Kyrgyzstan would ratify the document in the coming days. During the initial period of Kyrgyzstan’s integration both in the Customs Union and the common economic space, the Central Asian republic will face certain difficulties, the Kyrgyz premier said. Therefore, Bishkek expects assistance from Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, the premier said, adding that the Customs Union would allow Kyrgyz producers to extend their reach from the domestic market of 5 million people to the 170-million-population market of strong purchasing power. From January 1, 2015, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will switch to a high level of integration envisaging the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union based on the Customs Union, the common economic space and the potential accumulated by the Eurasian Economic Community. A treaty on establishing the Eurasian Economic Union is expected to be submitted for signing at the Astana summit on May 29. Learn more on itar-tass.com