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Ukraine has no plans to join Russia in post-Soviet customs union - FM

© RIA Novosti . Aleksey Nikolsky / Go to the mediabankUkraine has no plans to join Russia in post-Soviet customs union
Ukraine has no plans to join Russia in post-Soviet customs union  - Sputnik International
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Ukraine does not intend to join a customs union being established by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but supports the idea of free trade among former Soviet republics, the country's foreign minister said

Ukraine does not intend to join a customs union being established by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but supports the idea of free trade among former Soviet republics, the country's foreign minister said.

Kostyantyn Hryshchenko said Ukraine's accession to the proposed Customs Union would go against Ukraine's commitments as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"We are a member of the WTO and that is the best answer to your question," Hryshchenko said in an interview with the Kommersant-Ukraine business daily.

Kiev is also negotiating a free-trade agreement with the EU, which is incompatible with joining the post-Soviet customs union.

Hryshchenko said Ukraine intended to play a more active part in cooperation with members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) without seeking a full membership in the group.

"Our current status [as participating non-member] is enough to play a more active role in the CIS. It is the approach rather than format that matters," the minister said.

In January 2009, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan agreed to create a single economic space by January 1, 2012.

The countries notified the WTO in June, 2009 of their intention to join the organization as a single customs union, but later suspended negotiations to hold consultations on a common position on the customs union.

KIEV, May 14 (RIA Novosti)

 

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