V. Putin urged to speed up preparation for ratification of CES agreements

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urges the government to speed up the ratification of the documents relating to formation of common economic space (CES), which will give Belarus an opportunity to settle the question of export duties on energy resources satisfactorily.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urges the government to speed up the ratification of the documents relating to formation of common economic space (CES), which will give Belarus an opportunity to settle the question of export duties on energy resources satisfactorily.

V. Putin reminded that the whole set of agreements on establishing CES is to be ratified no later than January 1^st, 2012. At the same time, at the cabinet meeting that took place on Wednesday the prime minister said that Russia “has an arrangement with its partners, and first of all with Belarusian partners, that if these agreements are ratified before January 1^st, 2012, we will react appropriately, meaning payment or non-payment of export duties on some goods, including energy resources”.

“I ask the negotiating team to proceed from this and give our Belarusian partners an opportunity to ratify the documents as quickly as possible, to do everything that is in our power to speed up this process,” said the prime minister.

The Prime Minister noted that by no means should the process be “drawn out” and one more time emphasized the necessity to do everything that depends on the Russian party so as to “finish the work as quickly as possible”.

He also reminded that a number of important international events within the framework of the CIS, EurAsEC and Customs Union are planned to take place this week. One of the items on the agenda of this cabinet meeting is to consider the set of respective international agreements.

“It’s not just about improving the performance of the Customs Union, in fact, we are already engaged in the next stage of integration – formation of a common economic space,” said V. Putin.

He reminded that the CES should start functioning no later than January 1^st, 2012 and stressed the necessity to prepare the required legal basis by the agreed date.