Anatoli Smirnov: Debates about the terms of Russian oil deliveries to Belarus do not threaten the Customs Union

During the press conference at the National Press Centre of Belarus Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Anatoli Smirnov said that the debates about the terms of deliveries of Russian oil to Belarus do not pose a threat to the fate of the Customs Union.

During the press conference at the National Press Centre of Belarus Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Anatoli Smirnov said that the debates about the terms of deliveries of Russian oil to Belarus do not pose a threat to the fate of the Customs Union.

“Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan was established by the Presidents of the three countries. That decision was too difficult to make to close the Customs Union now,” stressed Anatoli Smirnov.

The Ambassador emphasized that “Kazakhstan has no doubts as to the fate of the Customs Union and there can be no doubt that the countries should continue their way to a common free market zone”. At the same time the diplomat noted that some thorny issues will certainly appear on this way. As an example Anatoli Smirnov mentioned such a burning for Belarusian society issue as the increase of duties on import of cars in view of formation of a uniform customs tariff for the three countries.

Talking about the advantages that the member-countries of the Customs Union will score Anatoli Smirnov noted that for Belarus and Kazakhstan participation in the Customs Union opens “a broad field for joint activities: establishing joint ventures, joint productions, transport of freight and raw materials from Kazakhstan as well as a huge trade area”. The general trend is as follows: formation of the Customs Union will result in increase of turnover and GDP growth.

Assessing the prospects of the turnover between Belarus and Kazakhstan Anatoli Smirnov said that in 2-3 years it could increase to $3 billion at the very least. The Ambassador also mentioned more than 30 joint Kazakhstan-Belarus projects on industrialization of Kazakhstan. According to him, the investment of projects that Belarusian party will take part in will total $20 billion. The diplomat noted that among them is the project on cooperation in the field of production of mineral fertilizers in Kazakhstan.

Returning to the topic of oil debates, the Ambassador stressed that the problem lies more in the area of the internal affairs of Belarus and Russia. “I think these issues will be settled,” he summarized.