Kazakhstan’s President suggests granting Turkey admission into the Customs Union

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev has suggested granting Turkey admission into the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, RIA Novosti quoted him as saying at the sitting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk, Belarus. “On my foreign trips I am often asked if we are recreating the USSR or creating its alternative under Russia (…) Turkey is a vast country. Why don’t we grant it admission into the Customs Union. All the speculations will be immediately stopped”, he said, adding that Turkey’s President had approached him with the request. Nazarbayev also suggested dismissing the EurAsEC and expanding the Customs Union. He sees no necessity in keeping the two parallel organizations. “We don’t need the organization”, President said. EurAsEC comprises Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Meanwhile the Eurasian Economic Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to be launched by 2015 is expected to be an advanced version of economic integration of the three states that already enjoy a single customs territory. The combined GDP of the three makes up 85% of the GDP of the CIS. Earlier Tengrinews.kz reported there have been discussions over possible accession of Syria. Syria hopes Minsk will support its entry into the Customs Union. Kyrgyzstan authorities also voiced their intention to enter the Customs Union. “Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan may be accepted as observers in the Customs Union (…) Armenia [also thinking of joining the Union] should clear all the procedures to be a member of the Customs Union”.