News
19.08.2010
Ukraine ready to support free trade zone in Belarus
Ukraine is not going to join the Customs Union, but it is ready to support the formation of the free trade zone in Belarus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Belarus Roman Bezsmertny told a press conference on 18 August.
“Ukraine is not going to access the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, but it is ready to support the formation of a free trade zone covering Belarus and Ukraine,” the Ambassador said.
The Customs Union accession by Ukraine can be now regarded as a big loss for both Ukraine and the Customs Union member-states from the economic viewpoint, according to the diplomat.
In his words, Ukraine is scrutinizing possible ways to join this integration project. “Today it is impossible for purely economic reasons. Ukraine is a WTO member. We will have to choose then between the Customs Union and the World Trade Organization, between a market of 160 countries and a three-country market,” the diplomat said.
“We will stay committed to the WTO membership and will try to develop different forms of cooperation with the Customs Union countries. In this context Ukraine is ready to play a role of a so-called bridge connecting these two associations,” the Ambassador of Ukraine said. He added the country has been making progress through the WTO adaptation period.
Roman Bezsmertny stressed: “Supporting a free trade zone that can include either the CIS as a whole or its member-states separately is quite an important and priority component of the foreign economic policy for Ukraine”.
BelTA
