Belarusian capital in the center of integration processes

29 апреля 2014
Our correspondents are working in the Palace of Independence, where the negotiations are going on.
Learn the latest information from the report of Andrey Krivosheyev (live).

Today's summit in Minsk has been called one of key events in the integration process of the Eurasian troika. The two fundamental issues discussed at today's meetings are the preparation of the Eurasian Economic Union treaty and Armenia's accession to the Customs Union and Common Economic Space. During the last three months, Yerevan has been sharply boosting the integration process and, as analysts say, it might become a new customs ally until the end of May.

As for the new agreement, its basis is almost fully ready, according to member of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Sergei Rumas. Intensive work on document has been underway since the Minsk summit last October and should to be completed by May. Belarus insists that the new alliance should adhere to classical principles, i.e. no exceptions and limitations concerning oil, gas, transport and finance. This position, repeatedly voiced by the Belarusian President, was focused on at the second summit meeting. At noon Alexander Lukashenko met with ECE Chairman Viktor Khristenko. The President was interested in the readiness of the troika's key document and the difficulties that can only be resolved at the level of Heads of State. Viktor Khristenko stressed that the agreement is almost ready, with a common oil and gas market as a fundamentally new aspect.


The President of Kazakhstan was the first of the allies to arrive at the Independence Palace. A bilateral meeting with Alexander Lukashenko was dedicated to new projects in industry, agriculture and education. Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that 14 major joint ventures had been established since the visit of the Belarusian President. Besides, he congratulated Alexander Lukashenko and the Belarusian people on the two major upcoming events - the Ice Hockey World Championship and 70th anniversary of Belarus' liberation from the Nazi invaders. The Russian President arrived at 3 p.m. Before the official meeting started, Alexander Lukashenko, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Vladimir Putin had had a two-hour face-to-face conversation.


As the summit's chairman, Alexander Lukashenko began the first meeting in a narrow format with the prehistory of the union's draft treaty and asked the allies to speak frankly about the difficulties that had emerged in the process of its harmonization.


The upcoming expanded format meeting and press conference have gained the attention of the media, because today's decisions are crucial for the speed of integration and attractiveness of the future Eurasian Economic Union itself.