Expert: Russia will regard Belarus' steps towards EU as a loss of ally
Belarus' deputy prime minister Uladzimir Siamashka said recently that Belarus would seek to create a common customs union with Russia and Kazakhstan, but would also seek a free economic zone with the European Union. In a conversation with Europadio, Russia's former economy minister Evgeniy Yasin warns that it would result in a negative reaction from the Kremlin and Belarus could lose its eastern friend on the way to the European Union. He said:
"Since we have agreed to build a customs union, Belarus' moves towards the European Union or a direct membership in the WTO will be perceived as a violation of obligations. Independent actions of any of the allies are not benefitial to Putin's Russia. Russia will percieve it that there is one ally less".
On June 9, 2009, the prime ministers of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement in Moscow that they would enter the WTO as a single customs territory. But WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on June 24 expressed doubts that such a customs grouping would be eligible to join his organization.
"Since we have agreed to build a customs union, Belarus' moves towards the European Union or a direct membership in the WTO will be perceived as a violation of obligations. Independent actions of any of the allies are not benefitial to Putin's Russia. Russia will percieve it that there is one ally less".
On June 9, 2009, the prime ministers of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement in Moscow that they would enter the WTO as a single customs territory. But WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on June 24 expressed doubts that such a customs grouping would be eligible to join his organization.
