Business news

MINSK, 28 October (BelTA) – There are difficulties with the implementation of the CIS free trade agreement, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with the heads of the government delegations of the EEU and the CIS member states in Minsk, BelTA has learned.

The head of state stressed that the free trade agreement is one of the key elements of the economic and trade cooperation in the CIS. “Today we see certain difficulties with its implementation caused by the deterioration of the relations between our two key partners. There is nothing we can do but call for patience and restraint in making decisions,” the Belarusian leader said.

He believes that the CIS has lost much with Georgia’s withdrawal from the organization. “Further movement along this path significantly reduces the economic and political potential of the CIS. Moreover, within the framework of the free trade agreement we have embarked on two major tasks: building a single market for public procurement and building the foundations of a market for free trade in services,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The head of state drew attention to the fact that Belarus is keenly interested in the broadest possible participation in this work.

“Interaction in various areas, equal rights of the member states, the flexibility of formats of collective cooperation and decision-making mechanisms have always been the strongest points of the CIS,” Alexander Lukashenko noted. He believes that thanks to them, the CIS will be able to solve the immediate issues regarding its further development.