From Vladivostok to Lisbon: Eurasian Economic Union Holds Key to New Economic Superblock
Today, Moldova officially joined the Eurasian Economic Union, but only as an observer state for now. All of the members jointly agreed to make another step towards common monetary and financial policy.
But particular attention was drawn to the new Armenian prime minister, who publicly cleared up the new government's attitude toward union, with which Serbia, Singapore, Egypt, India, and other countries want closer cooperate.
Alexander Balitsky with the report.
The first major international meeting since Vladimir Putin assumed office sets the priorities once more: the most important direction is Eurasian integration. Right now it's only five countries but in the future a huge territory from Lisbon to Vladivostok.
Even before the start of the official part of the summit, Vladimir Putin managed to meet and to speak with every leader. Here he is with Nursultan Nazarbayev, who came up with the idea of the Union, going down an escalator. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, and for the first time among the leaders, the new Armenian prime minister.
For Nikol Pashinyan these are his first steps on the global stage. When he was in the opposition, he suggested leaving the Eurasian Union and CSTO, but now he has no doubt that the course, taken up by his predecessor, is right. Among all countries of the EAEU, it was Armenia who achieved the highest growth a record 7.5% of GDP. and an increase of trade with Russia alone by one third.
Vladimir Putin: "Let me welcome you here and congratulate you personally on election to the high post of Prime Minister of Armenia. At the start of our meeting, I'd like to say that as everyone knows, we see Armenia as our closest partner and ally in the region, both in economic cooperation and security".
Nikol Pashinyan: "No one had and I think no one would doubt the strategic importance of Armenian-Russian relations. I can assure you, that in Armenia there is a consensus about this question".
He immediately uploaded his first international visit online. Maybe his past as a journalist played a role. He made a small tour around the plane before take-off. During his talk with Putin, he said that he watched the Red Square broadcast of the Victory Parade on May 9th without interruption, just like the rest of Armenia.
And the President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan firstly congratulated Putin on assuming office.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: "God send you good health, the strength to withstand everything, and to lead Russia on a broad path of light, because we, Kazakhstan, want that very much, as the closest country, with which Russia has the most exemplary relations and economic ties".
The economic ties and also development of cooperation in energy, medicine, the digital economy, and the environment are in the spotlight. Vladimir Putin, as traditionally done, sets the tone for the whole talk.
Vladimir Putin: "We have a busy agenda today. We are to make a series of strategic decisions on further intensifying the integration. Among the priorities, I would emphasize developing efforts on creating the common market of goods and services, further development of trade-investment ties, and strengthening cooperation in production and technology. Moreover, we consider it important to continue the course on the convergence of the financial and monetary policies of our countries, and to build new, more effective transportation and logistic links".
Igor Dodon, the President of Moldova, is not yet at the table. But he will join the table in an extended format of the meeting.
Vladimir Putin: "Is everyone here?"
Moldova now has the official status of an observer state in the EAEU. As Dodon emphasizes, that the majority of his country wants a close partnership.
Igor Dodon: "Today is an important day. And a historic event. The Republic of Moldova has been granted the official status of an observer state in the EAEU. For a long time, the citizens of Moldova have looked forward to more active participation in the new integration projects of the Commonwealth of Independent States".
Millions of citizens already feel the advantages of the EAEU. Even in the airport, there are no customs declarations and control. But for the states themselves, there is a principle of four freedoms: movement of goods, capitals, services, and labor. And since the new year, uniform rules regulate the common customs code, making it easier to conduct business.
The absence of barriers is emphasized by the atmosphere in the hotel, which holds the summit: it wasn't closed for the residents. The presidential motorcades, here's the Kyrgyzstan leader's car, near the pool. And here are tourists with strollers.
Sooronbay Jeenbekov prepared for his speech while walking in the park. The main profits from cooperation for Kyrgyzstan are in energy. But Jeenbekov decided to sum up the total result.
Sooronbay Jeenbekov: "The plain evidence of the positive results of our common efforts in this field is the 26% growth of the volume of mutual trade between the states in 2017".
There are points of contention, as Lukashenko says. That's why they should be solved together.
Alexander Lukashenko: “It's of vital importance to appreciate and follow the achieved agreements, to solve the most difficult problems, based on the rules created by ourselves, to respect each other, as it is customary with allies and business partners. Belarus is set on this kind of further relations.”
Vladimir Putin: "I must admit, there were discussions, arguments, but we managed to achieve common decisions".
Other countries are taking more interest in the EAEU. Negotiations about a free trade zone have started with Israel, Serbia, Singapore, Egypt, and India. Such a regime is already established with Vietnam, And in three days, in Astana, such agreements will be signed with China and Iran. Almost twenty documents have already been signed by the leaders today. But the President of Kyrgyzstan had doubts, whether it was the final version in his hand.
Sooronbay Jeenbekov: "There's something missing, can you come up?"
It turned out that there was no mistake.
And when the leaders decided to meet in autumn, they also brought up the FIFA World Cup. Russia will host it very soon.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: "It's a huge event of planetary scale. We hope, that we'll be invited".
Vladimir Putin: "All of you are invited. I already told that. Thank you for the kind wishes".
In the very end, Putin and Dodon discussed something for quite a long time. And then, all together, they headed to the Sochi sea front for a walk, and negotiations continued in an informal setting.
Alexander Balitsky, Irina Kharlamova, Oleg Makarov, Stanislav Ponomarenko, Vesti, Sochi.