Problems in the Customs Union Is Inevitable Process, Massimov

07.09.2010 10:40
Архив Редакция

Difficulties in the work of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia are temporary, but natural. It was stated on September 7 by Kazakh Prime Minister, Karim Massimov, at VI Baikal Economic Forum in Irkutsk. "Of course, there are some problems in the CU, but it is an inevitable process in an organization of such a large scale", the politician said.

Moreover, the head of Kazakh government stressed that the work of the Customs Union «is going well in general», IA Regnum-Belarus informs.

With regard to Belarusian-Russian differences over customs oil duties, Karim Massimov expressed the hope that the countries would find «a mutually acceptable solution for all parties» soon.

Trade Unions of Belarus urged Russian colleagues to initiate the cancellation of oil duties

On September 3, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB) addressed the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia and General Confederation of Trade Unions with a proposal to initiate the issue of cancellation of import customs duties on oil products imported from Russia to Belarus before the highest authorities of the state. It was reported in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus.

According to FPB, Russia «violated several international treaties aimed at ensuring social and economic development of the two states through the establishment of free trade, it does not meet international law».

FPB leadership stated that charging of duties would result considerable economic losses of Belarus: it reduces the competitiveness of products, it can lead to deterioration of the socio-economic problems, dismissal of workers. In addition, «actions of the Russian side also destroy cooperation ties between enterprises of Belarus and Russia», stressed in FPB.

The authors of the message also pointed out that the levying of oil duties by Russia could affect «the perception of the policy and actions of the Russian Federation by the population of the Republic of Belarus».

As Telegraf previously reported, Ministry of Justice through the court calls for Russia to cancel export duties on oil products and Russian petrochemical raw materials supplied to Belarusian refineries. On March 25, 2010, Ministry of Justice sent appropriate petition to the Economic Court of CIS, which serves as the EurAsEC Court and from July 1 serves as the court of the Customs Union.   

The reason for the lawsuit was the sharp appreciation of Belarusian petrochemical products by 10-25%. Deputy Chairman of Belneftekhim, Bronislav Sivy, stressed that such an increase in the cost of oil «is very considerable for us».

On April 21, CIS Economic Court took to examine the claim of Belarus to Russia on Russia’s unreasonable imposition on January 1 of duties on petroleum products and crude oil supplied to Belarus.

In June, Belarusian Ministry of Justice applied to the CIS Economic Court with a demand «to temporarily prohibit the Russian Federation to levy export duties on petroleum products imported from the Russian Federation to the Republic of Belarus, before a final decision of the Court on this issue». However, CIS Economic Court rejected the petition of Belarusian side on the issue.

On June 24, CIS Economic Court decided to consider the claim of Belarus to Russia on petroleum products duties on September 7. Panel of judges resolved that the parties had not exhausted all possibilities to solve the conflict by themselves. The court recommended to resort to conciliation procedures.

On September 4, Belarusian Ministry of Justice reproached the Russian side that it still had not provided its response on Belarus’ statement of claim. According to Justice Ministry representatives, the CIS Economic Court ordered the Russian side to present its opinion twice — on April 21 and May 19, 2010, but neither the Court nor the Belarusian side has been informed about the arguments of the defendant yet.

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