OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2009. Belarus insists that equal access of commodities to markets of EurAsEC countries is needed, said Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky as he met with EurAsEC Secretary General Tair Mansurov, reported the Official website government.by.

“There are several decisions made in the Eurasian space, which restrict the access of commodities to markets of EurAsEC member-states. Those are decisions the Integration Committee did not make. I think these issues should be considered at a session of the EurAsEC Interstate Council by heads of government,” said the Prime Minister. The session is supposed to take place in Moscow on June 9.

Sergei Sidorsky underscored, during these complicated crisis months Belarus has not made such restrictive decisions regarding EurAsEC member-states. “We will defend the view that EurAsEC markets should be free. It is what EurAsEC has been created for,” he said.

The Belarusian head of government also underscored it is necessary to adopt a EurAsEC anticrisis programme as soon as possible. “It is May already, this is why it should be considered in June. I would like it to be productive and meet requirements of economies of EurAsEC member-states,” added Sergei Sidorsky.

The single customs tariff of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan should be worked out as soon as possible, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky noted during his meeting. The single customs tariff is to be imposed on January 1, 2010.

According to him, there are some issues which should be discussed at the EurAsEC Interstate Council of the Heads of State. It concerns the programme on high technologies and innovation development of economy. The Belarusian side proposed to intensify the development of the bio and nano-technologies which should be introduced in the economy to reach a new development level during the global financial crisis. According to the Belarusian Premier, such projects should be financed within the framework of the EurAsEC.

Sergei Sidorsky also added that the EurAsEC heads of Government will discuss the issues regarding the single energy area.

Tair Mansurov agreed that the development of the joint anticrisis plan is delayed. In his words, the development should be finished. This is why a meeting of heads of ministries of finance, economy and the central banks of EurAsEC states will take place on May 20 to work out measures in detail and specify execution deadlines.

The EurAsEC Secretary General remarked that Belarus’ proposal suggesting free access of commodities to EurAsEC markets had caused a lot of arguments. “I’ve written down all proposals. If there are remarks, I suggested polishing them together with the Belarusian side,” he added. Tair Mansurov underscored that neither Kazakhstan nor Kyrgyzstan made any remarks.