Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia are creating a new economic and political centre of power in the Eurasian space.

With the aim of ensuring the functioning and development of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, the parties have established the Eurasian Economic Commission, whose activities will be carried out in the interests of the entire integration community and will be of a highly professional nature. The corresponding Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Commission was signed by the presidents of the three countries.

This commission will be the successor to the Commission of the Customs Union. It will carry out its activities on the principles of ensuring mutual benefit, equality and consideration of the national interests of the parties, economic feasibility of decisions, openness, transparency and objectivity. In connection with the expansion and complication of the commission's functions, the treaty provides for the creation of a two-tier body consisting of the Commission's Council and the Commission's Collegium, whose functions and powers are delineated. Thus, the necessary conditions are created to ensure the consideration of Belarus's interests in the decision-making process, as the possibility is provided for bringing sensitive issues to a higher level, up to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council at the level of heads of state, where decisions are made by consensus.

The presidents also approved the regulations for the Eurasian Economic Commission. The regulations detail the decision-making mechanism by the Council and the Collegium of the Commission, the rules for conducting meetings, and other organizational issues.

As stated by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan are moving towards the creation of a Single Economic Space because it is beneficial for everyone.

"During the time that has passed since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there have been more than enough ideas in our space. But everyone always said that until Russia takes practical steps towards integration from statements and declarations, nothing will happen," noted Alexander Lukashenko, emphasizing Russia's role in the creation of the SES.

The head of the Belarusian state drew attention to the fact that the relations between the three countries have now become completely different, and they can even be called inter-budgetary, considering the huge funds from customs duties collected at the external border, which are shared among the union members.

"This is already a big deal, because the economies of our states are tied to this, and this is probably trillions of dollars," noted the Belarusian leader.

Speaking about the signed Declaration on Eurasian Economic Integration, Alexander Lukashenko noted that it is a document focused on medium-term and even long-term cooperation. "We have clearly defined there how we will move and in what direction, what we will strive for. Everything is concisely outlined there, both regarding currency and economic cooperation," said the head of state. According to the President of Belarus, there are still people in all three countries who are zealously opposed to integration within the EAEC. "Attempts to disrupt this process are still being made. It is clear who is behind these people, but we have overcome all this and clearly stated that we are not losing any sovereignty, and no one is forcing anyone anywhere," Alexander Lukashenko noted. "I think Russia is unnecessarily justifying itself to everyone that it is pressuring someone here. We are doing this because it is beneficial to all three states." Furthermore, Alexander Lukashenko agreed with Dmitry Medvedev that the Customs Union and the EAEC are an attractive project also because there are already other countries wishing to join. "But today we agreed that a specific 'roadmap' will be developed for these interested parties. If you jump over this bar, come, we will cooperate, but it won't be just like that. This is economics, this is big money, not just unsubstantiated statements," emphasized the head of the Belarusian state. As Alexander Lukashenko noted, by 2015, the parties intend to codify the international treaties that form the legal framework of the Customs Union and the EAEC, and on this basis, move towards the creation of the Eurasian Union. "We will come to what our economic community will be called in the future. I think it will be the Eurasian Union. And we should not be afraid of this, because we are already lagging behind – there are already unions all around us," noted the head of the Belarusian state. "The EU does not call itself the European Economic Union and does not justify itself to anyone. They do not justify themselves to us for having a powerful political and military instrument that they rely on. For some reason, we are still looking at others, glancing around and afraid to say that we are striving for the closest cooperation. But we are discussing this. And all those who still think today that we will talk, disperse, and everything will remain as it was, should know this."The President of Belarus expressed his confidence that by creating a new economic and political centre of power in the Eurasian space, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia are moving in the right direction. "Because the success of the EAEU is important not only for our states, but also for our closest neighbours. It will become a significant factor for all major international centres," said the head of the Belarusian state. "As for Belarus, deep, productive integration with its closest neighbours has been, is, and will be a natural path of development for us," stressed Alexander Lukashenko. Speaking about the signed agreement on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the President noted that it will be the main supranational regulatory body within the Customs Union and the EAEU. Alexander Lukashenko noted that there had been disputes more than once about the possibility of creating supranational bodies in various integration formations in the post-Soviet space. "But we have taken this step. We have, perhaps for the first time in history, created a normal, effective supranational body, and certain powers have been transferred to it. This must also be said directly and openly. We are not afraid of this. This is very important for us," stated the Belarusian leader. According to him, the agreement on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Commission provides for specific mechanisms to ensure the interests of each country. "There is no infringement here. Any issue can be escalated to the level of heads of state, and only by consensus can we make a decision. Therefore, there is nothing to fear here," Alexander Lukashenko is confident. "The most important thing is that we are solving the problems that have long stood before our states. Somewhere we made concessions, somewhere we gained benefits, but we approached the signing of these documents in a very balanced way," added the head of the Belarusian state. Alexander Lukashenko stated that in the near future he will submit the documents on the Single Economic Space, signed in Moscow, to parliament for ratification. "Today or tomorrow, we will send all the documents for adoption by our parliament. As before, we will ratify these documents in the very near future, and they will acquire the force of law in Belarus," stated the head of the Belarusian state. Alexander Lukashenko also noted that the experience of working within the Union State of Belarus and Russia was taken into account when creating the EAEU. According to the President of Belarus, the Union State is more advanced in terms of integration than the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space.At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko did not rule out that if integration within the EAEC proceeds faster than in the Belarusian-Russian Union, the question of the need to preserve the Union State will arise. "The Union State project may dissolve if we, firstly, stand still, working within the Union State. And the Eurasian Economic Space project will move forward very quickly. Then, perhaps, the EAEC will catch up with the Union State in its degree of integration. And then we will be entitled to raise the question: do we need a parallel Union State," said the Belarusian leader. However, today, according to the President of Belarus, the situation is such that the Union State, with all its shortcomings, is a very advanced degree of integration. "It is enough to say that when we formed the regulatory framework for the Customs Union, and then for the Eurasian Economic Space, we, to put it mildly, took something from the experience of working within the Union State," the President noted. "The Eurasian Economic Space, which we are forming, and the Customs Union are still far from the degree of integration of the Union State," believes Alexander Lukashenko. In confirmation, the Belarusian leader cited the huge number of areas of cooperation between the two countries, the absence of any borders, and other advantages. The Head of State emphasized that in 2011, the trade turnover between Belarus and Russia will reach $35 billion. "This year, we will have a trade turnover with the Russian Federation of about $35 billion. A huge figure, especially for a country of ten million people," noted Alexander Lukashenko. "Our trade turnover with the United States is less," noted the President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev. In particular, Belarus actively supplies food products to Russia. "In four years, we will sell food to foreign markets for $7 billion. The vast majority of this is Russia. This year, we will sell food for $4 billion," said the Belarusian leader. Alexander Lukashenko also touched upon other areas of trade with Russia, in particular, supplies of high-octane gasoline from Belarus. "Recently, we agreed with the Russian leadership that we will supply up to 40 thousand tons of high-octane gasoline this year, which Russia lacks today. Because we managed to modernize our oil refineries," said the Head of the Belarusian State.According to him, Belarus can process up to 30 million tons of oil instead of the current 21 million tons and supply the produced high-quality oil products, including to the Russian market. Discussing the issue of whether the problems currently existing in the European Union will arise in the EAEC and, in the future, in the Eurasian Economic Union, Alexander Lukashenko expressed confidence that this will not happen because the economies of the three countries are complementary. "Kazakhstan has everything that the Russian Federation has: both natural gas and oil, and a lot of new, modernized enterprises," said the Belarusian leader. "If you mean Belarus, then do not worry, Belarus, to our good fortune, has a very complex economy. But it does not overlap not only with Kazakhstan's, but even with Russia's. What we create in Belarus is gladly bought in Russia," noted Alexander Lukashenko. As for Kazakhstan, Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus participates in the implementation of 30 programs in this country. "Therefore, if we cooperate reasonably, on an equal footing, as is accepted today, believe me, we will only grow closer. Our economies will push us towards this. And no one will be a freeloader from anyone. Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus are capable of earning the funds necessary for people to live normally," the President of Belarus is confident. In addition, Alexander Lukashenko believes that with the creation of the EAEC, milk, sugar, and other trade wars will disappear. Speaking about the benefits of integration in the format of the Single Economic Space for ordinary citizens, Alexander Lukashenko said: "No one disputes that the current formation is an increase in trade turnover. We demonstrate this in practice. But an increase in trade turnover means an increase in production output. And if large volumes of products are manufactured, it means people receive higher wages." "But the most important thing is that some of our conflicts, misunderstandings, milk, sugar, and other wars will disappear. We have declared, and we practically work under these conditions, the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. Is this not for the people? Of course, for the people - that says it all," emphasized the head of the Belarusian state. Before flying to Minsk, Alexander Lukashenko gave an interview to the program "Vesti v Subbotu" with Sergey Brilev of the "Russia" TV channel.Alexander Lukashenko spoke about his vision of the prospects for cooperation between Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan within the framework of the Single Economic Space and the further formation of the Eurasian Union. "The value of today is that we have started moving. The inertia of this movement will not allow us to turn in another direction," the head of state noted. "The main thing is that we are moving towards greater unification, greater unity." -0-

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