The Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh interior ministers will meet on Tuesday in Astana to discuss joint measures aimed at preventing a possible rise in illegal goods trafficking within the Customs Union, the Belarusian Interior Ministry has said.
The Customs Union between Russian, Belarus and Kazakhstan became fully operational in early July, when the three countries ratified the Customs Code. The countries plan to scrap their customs borders on July 1, 2011, which may lead to an increase in illegal immigration and trafficking of various goods within the union.
According to the ministry, illegal imports from third countries have already resulted in a shortage of tax and customs revenues in Belarus's state budget. Belarusian police fear smuggling of alcohol and cigarettes, as well as illegal car dealing, could increase in Belarus after the customs borders are scrapped. This may also result in illegal exports of precious metals from the Customs Union to Europe.
"There are indications that a possibility of free movement of these goods within the Customs Union would aggravate the problem," the ministry said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh interior ministers, Rashid Nurgaliyev, Anatoly Kuleshov and Serik Beimaganbetov, are expected to meet with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
MINSK, August 24 (RIA Novosti)
