Lukashenko does not rule out a special status for unrecognized states within Customs Union

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko does not rule out provision of a special status to the so-called unrecognized or partially recognized state formations within the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, which is under formation.  Lukashenko said this when replying to ArmInfo's question during the Oct 21 meeting with the heads of the CIS news agencies.       

He stressed that the idea had not been discussed and he was not ready to give any reply himself. "But this topic may be considered", said Lukashenko. He shared the opinion that the economies of these unrecognized formations (Karabakh, Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia) are fully integrated into the Customs Union countries' economies, as well as into the economies of the countries that are going to join the Customs Union. He also agreed that it would be wrong to pose economic obstacles in the way of these formations, especially given the tragic moments in their histories.        

As regards the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Lukashenko pointed out that its settlement completely depends on the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "They need to sit at the negotiation table, come to the final agreement and resolve the problem as soon as possible", he said. The President of Belarus stressed that he maintains good relations with both the incumbent President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and the second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan.