Ukraine will join the Unified Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan only on the conditions of the World Trade Organization,
President Viktor Yanukovych said on Saturday, according to RIA Novosti.
"We have fallen far behind in this process [the creation of the
economic space]," Yanukovych said in an interview with Russia's Vesti
TV channel.
In December 2009, the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
agreed to create a single economic space by January 1, 2012. The
Customs Union of the three countries started working on January 1, 2010.
"Moreover, Ukraine joined the WTO [in 2008] and now may join this
space only on the WTO conditions. We wish our partners to join the WTO
as soon as possible," Yanukovych said adding that Ukraine's entry to
the Unified Economic Space remains relevant.
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan intended to establish the
Unified Economic Space back in 2003. The process stalled due to
Ukraine's position that favored the creation of a free trade zone
within the single space but did not want to join the Customs Union.
When Viktor Yushchenko took office in 2005, the negotiations were
suspended.
