Armenia is going to join Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in a Customs Union, even though it has no common borders with them, the RBK-Daily newspaper reports.
Armenia is going to create a special economic zone, with transit and customs procedures similar to those in Kaliningrad region of Russia, the paper said.
The issues of Armenia's entry into the Customs Union were discussed at the Yerevan meeting of the Armenian Premier Tigran Sargsyan and Russian First Deputy Premier Igor Shuvalov.
Sargisyan added that mechanisms of the Armenia's participation in the common market are under development. Currently, Armenia exports goods to Russia through Georgia's territory. Moreover, unlike Russia, Armenia is a member of WTO.
Ukraine earlier declined an offer to join the Customs Union, since it does not meet the main economic principles of the WTO. The Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which provides joint customs rates, common principles of the non-tariff regulations as well as free trade between the member-states, will start operating on July 1, 2010.
