BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

16/08/2006

Customs Union to function really after 18 months - Belarus leader

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes that Customs Union, envisaging simplified rules of crossing borders and cargo transportation, will work really not earlier than after year and a half.

"To sign agreement is one thing, and to create really the union is another," said Lukashenko at summary press conference of informal summit of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).

Belarusian leader noted that according to high-level experts' estimations, this term makes up about three years. "But if we work hard, we will be able to create the union in 18 months", he added.

Speaking about results of the informal summit of the EurAsEC, Lukashenko noted that one of its main results was the fact that heads of the EurAsEC member states "finally arrived at a conclusion on the necessity of Customs Union".

"However equal conditions for all subjects is major condition for constant presence of Belarus in this union. If there are no equal conditions, we don't want such a union", Belarus president emphasized.

Source:

http://news.uzreport.com/mir.cgi?lan=e&id=17185