Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : A. Stepanenko
Attache, Department of State Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Russian Federation, post-grad-
uate, Diplomatic Academy
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT for market
economy countries presupposes the formation of
country integration groups based on the mutual
adaptability of national economies. The objective
prerequisite for such action is the existence of a Sin-
gle Economic Space (SES) provided by political, legal,
informational and institutional measures. As a trend
in the development of the system of international re-
lations, the integration process goes in its evolution
through certain stages. With respect to the Eurasian integration, we can view these steps from
the perspective of the implementation of the political agreements made by leaders of the CIS
countries.
Stabilization processes in the economic systems of the countries of the agreement made it pos-
sible to work out the national programs for socioeconomic development, and to determine the
best approach to agree the directions for regional integration within the CIS framework. Of the
utmost importance was the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev,
for a special Program for the Economies of Central Asia, to which Turkmenistan also was a
party. On the basis of the program it is possible to single out two main objectives: first, the con-
tinued strengthening of economic ties between the states of the region; secondly, the develop-
ment of economic integration of the Central Asian countries with Europe and Asia. In addition,
the program contemplated the following priority directions of cooperation among the CIS coun-
tries: transport infrastructure development, rational use of water and energy resources, attracting
foreign investment and providing multiple routes for the delivery of hydrocarbons to external
markets.
AFTER COMPLETING the formation of the single customs territory - the basis of the Cus-
toms Union - the EurAsEC countries (Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan) began to create a Single
Economic Space, the next integration step.
As agreed at the highest level between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, they are to complete, by
January 1, 2015, the codification of the various international treaties making up the legal frame-
work of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space.
The Economic Union - as a new stage of integration - is attractive also for other foreign coun-
tries. In addition to the planned entry of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan into the EAEU, Abkhazia,
South Ossetia, Transnistria, and Tajikistan have expressed their intention of participating in some
or other form. Negotiations are underway to create a free trade area with Vietnam. South Amer-
ican partners and India have voiced similar intentions.
http://interaffairs.ru
The Eurasian Integration Process of the CIS Countries