Friday, December 4 2020 14:00

ArmInfo. RA Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan today attended the Eurasian Intergovernmental  Council's regular meeting, which was held via videoconferencing. 

The meeting was also attended by RF Premier Mikhail Mishustin,  Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of  Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, Acting Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Artyom  Novikov, Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu, and Eurasian Economic  Commission Board Chairman Mikhail Myasnikovich.  

According to the RA Government Press Service, Prime Minister  Pashinyan made a speech, in which he particularly noted: "Honorable  Heads of Government, Distinguished members of delegation, I am glad  for this opportunity to see you and discuss issues on our cooperation  agenda. I would like to thank you for the work done by the Commission  in preparation for this on-line meeting under such difficult  conditions.  The global pandemic has posed serious challenges to all  of us. However, today we can confidently say that it has not affected  the effectiveness of our Union. 

We hope that further coordinated action to combat the new coronavirus  infection will lead to positive results in the near future. I am  convinced that our joint work and consolidation of efforts to  overcome the emerging challenges will provide another basis for  deepening the ongoing integration processes.  It is extremely  important to find mutually acceptable solutions to all sensitive  issues in this difficult period.  Passenger traffic restrictions are  among our primary concerns - the lifting of the ban on the entry of  Armenian citizens to a number of EAEU countries.

This year was especially difficult for Armenia for reasons you all  know. Nevertheless, we did not slow down the pace of cooperation; we  have been actively involved in all processes underway within the  integration area. It should be noted that these days we felt the  strong support coming from our partners. We are grateful for the  invaluable assistance that the Russian Federation has provided in an  effort to help us overcome the difficulties facing our people this  year.

Dear Colleagues,

Down to the agenda of today's meeting, I would like  to dwell on the following questions: The Armenian side considers that  the full implementation of the Strategic Directions for the  Development of Eurasian Integration by 2025 Project is a priority.  The document seeks to bring the member states' economic development  levels closer to each other, expand the areas of economic  cooperation, and improve the regulatory framework.

The mechanisms for building common markets without impediments,  shortfalls and restrictions, as specified in that document, are the  key to ensuring the four freedoms, the cooperation of our national  economies and the overall level of competitiveness. Once implemented,  the document will help strengthen the Union's international standing  and will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of its investment and  innovative attractiveness.

The need to develop equal, non-discriminatory terms and conditions  for competition in all economic sectors is among our key concerns.  That is why we believe that a coordinated energy policy should be  pursued in order to develop common markets for oil, oil products,  gas, as well as a common electricity market.  In this regard, the  adoption of an international arrangement on the EAEU common gas  market will be of great importance, which implies common approaches  to pricing and tariffs within the EAEU common gas market, including  common tariffs for transportation and transit-related services  provided by the natural gas supplier. We emphasize the need for  finding a unified solution and final settlement of the issue of  developing a common gas market. We are confident that this will  provide necessary conditions for enhanced energy security, economic  integration and competitiveness of member nations.

The next issue I would like to address is the formation of a single  market for construction services. The adoption of an action plan in  this area is an important step in that direction. In the context of  the proposed measures, we can develop and sign an international  instrument applicable within the EAEU on mutual recognition of  professional qualifications of technical personnel engaged in the  field of construction.  Finally, I would like to address the issue of  providing tariff benefits for goods and services from developing and  less developed countries. I consider it necessary to immediately  review the list of countries using the common system of tariff  privileges. It must be made in accordance with our own standards.    Dear meeting participants,

Concluding my speech, I would like to reaffirm Armenia's readiness  for close cooperation towards Eurasian integration, and urge you to  back our initiative aimed at clarifying the list of countries  benefiting from common EAEU tariff privileges in accordance with the  legal norms applicable within the Union.  Whereas this is the last  meeting of the Intergovernmental Council this year, I would like to  once again thank you for active cooperation and wish you all the  best. Thank you." A wide range of issues related to Eurasian  integration were discussed during the meeting: trade, internal market  activity, competition, industry, technical standards, etc. During the  expanded session, the EAEU heads of government signed the minutes and  the documents on the adopted decisions.