Wednesday, October 11 2017 21:28

ArmInfo.On October 11, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan addressed the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. He said in part: "For almost three-year  period of the functioning of the Eurasian Union, a considerable  amount of work has been done on the practical implementation of the  principles of freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and  labor on the general market.

The contractual and legal framework is constantly replenished, the priorities of the Union have already been determined, there is a joint coordination of policies in the most  important sectors of the economy, the coverage of the multilateral  cooperation of the EAEU is consistently expanding.

For the first 7 months of this year, we have an increase in the  volume of mutual trade by almost 28% compared to the same period last  year. In January-July 2017, by the corresponding period of 2016, the  growth of the Republic of Armenia's export deliveries to the market  of the EAEU countries was registered by 29%. The total volume of  foreign trade of Member States with third countries increased by more  than 26% and Vladimir Putin cited many figures that confirm the  correctness of our decision. It is necessary to consolidate this  trend, to ensure its sustainable character.

For this, it seems to us, it is necessary:

First, to continue joint work not only in terms of identifying, but  also eliminating existing barriers, to provide the necessary  prerequisites for doing business in conditions of uniform rules for  healthy competition. Carrying out work on expanding the contractual  base, it is necessary to focus on those normative acts, after which  economic entities of our countries would in practice feel the  validity of their adoption.

Secondly, we expect that the digital agenda should promote  transparency of cooperation, increase productivity, and improve the  quality of services. We share the urgency of the issue and believe  that it must be solved taking into account the following points:  assessing the economic feasibility of projects, their integration  component and significance for the economies of our countries; taking  into account the positive experience of implementing similar projects  in the member states of the Union; set of agreed criteria on which it  is possible to assess the conformity of projects to the interests of  the Member States and the Union as a whole.

I believe that the development of digital solutions can begin with  the mutual recognition of electronic invoices. Since the issue of  mutual recognition of invoices is cross-cutting for a number of  digital initiatives, including tracking and electronic commerce, I  propose that the governments of countries, together with the  Commission, work on this issue as soon as possible. It is also  important that all subsequent actions on the digital agenda would  shield the business from the possible increase in disproportionate  administration and new financial burdens.

Another step towards strengthening the EAEU, and this is the third,  is cooperation on the international track. We proceed from the fact  that, at the level of the Union and individually, the interaction  between various integration structures, naturally, with observance of  our commitments, can make an important contribution to the formation  of a mutually complementary and mutually beneficial space without  dividing lines for the benefit of all states.

We note with satisfaction the principal completion of the  negotiations on the trade and economic agreement of the EAEU - China.  This became possible thanks to the experience of bilateral  cooperation with China accumulated by our countries. We believe that  this format of cooperation should contribute to the development of  cooperation of the entire EAEU, as well as the cooperation of the  EAEU in this or that direction should enrich the bilateral relations  of our countries.

We believe that the creation of a single Eurasian trade and economic  space and transport corridor is possible through the implementation  of large infrastructure projects that unite the Unified Energy System  with the initiative "One belt, one path," involving all countries of  the Union. This will minimize all available infrastructure  constraints for integration, and, as a result, form a system of  associated transport routes.

I would also like to confirm the mood, and I am sure that this is our  common position, for signing an agreement with Iran in the near  future. This issue was touched upon yesterday with the leadership of  the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Prime Minister of Armenia during  his yesterday's visit to Iran and I understand that they are ready to  continue negotiations and conclude in the near future.

In conclusion, I would like to inform you that yesterday the  Constitutional Court of Armenia considered the Agreement on the  Customs Code of the EAEC, and the document will be sent to Parliament  for ratification in the near future. We expect that further all  issues will be resolved in our countries in a constructive way for  the benefit of our peoples and for the prosperity of our countries."