EurAsEC Leaders to Discuss in Dushanbe Observer Status For Armenia

The inter-state council of the Eurasian Economic Community /EurAsEC/ will meet on April 27th in Dushanbe, attended by heads of state, its press-service reported on Friday.

One of the agenda items, it said, will be granting permanent observer status to Armenia.

The range of issues to be discussed is wide and concerns integration. EurAsEC Secretary-General Grigory Rapota will also take part in their discussion.

One of the items to be considered is a draft of the community's development guidelines for 2003-2006.

The council will also examine a protection mechanism for the community's internal markets in the absence of special anti-dumping and compensation measures in mutual trade.

Besides, progress will be examined in implementing a special joint programme for establishing checkpoints on the external borders of the signatory states during 2001-2005.

Heads of states will also compare notes on how better to co-ordinate talks to join the World Trade Organisation.

The agenda also includes joint development by EurAsEC states of energy resources in Central Asia and practical measures to promote co-operation in the real sector of the economy and deepen integration processes in the Eurasian space.

The EurAsEC Council is the supreme body of the community. It is made up of heads of state and government of the EurAsEC countries. The council examines fundamental matters relating to the common interests of the member-countries, defines the strategy, direction and prospects of integration, and also makes decisions on pursuing EurAsEC ideas and goals.

EurAsEC comprises Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Russia and Tajikistan. Moldova and Ukraine have observer status.