Our leaders have adopted a decision to transfer to the new integration stage - towards the Eurasian Economic Union in 2015. At present we have been preparing an agreement about the Eurasian Economic Union, Russian president's advisor, Sergey Glazyev, told "Ekho Moskvy" radio.
"The Customs Union is a common economic area. Moreover, at present we are discussing what else to add. We are stemming from the fact that Kirghizia and Armenia are the states which have officially expressed their wish to join. We are drawing out the road map for joining. These states have been negotiating with us for setting up of the Eurasian Economic Union. The general idea is that by 2015 we have to simultaneously complete setting up of the Eurasian Economic Union and the procedure of the new members joining. As for Ukraine, the ball is in their court, as they say. If Ukraine signs the Association Agreement with the European Union, it will not take part in the process", - Glazyev said.
He also added that absence of the common border is a difficulty which will not become an obstacle for Armenia's joining the Customs Union. He presented Kaliningrad region of Russia as an example and said that it is already for five years, that Kaliningrad region which does not have a common border to Russia, is within the common customs area. "Certainly, absence of the common border is a certain difficulty let by the Customs Code. We will be forced to hold monitoring of the goods which cross the state border of Armenia, as well as the monitoring of the transborder operations. However, there will be no customs taxes. There will be only the monitoring with special rules", - he concluded.