Eurasec to focus on energy, customs on Day 2 of Black Sea summit

RIA Novosti
16/08/2006

MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti) – Post-Soviet leaders will continue a
two-day informal summit in southern Russian Wednesday, focusing on a common
energy market and customs union as part of the five-member Eurasian Economic
Community (Eurasec).

The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus joined
Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi Tuesday,
along with the prime minister of Armenia, which is an observer in the
organization.

"The agenda includes the formation of a customs union within the
organization," a Kremlin source said earlier in the week. "Strategy and
tactics for the community’s progress will be discussed in this context."

Ukraine’s prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, is also attending the summit as
part of his first foreign trip in his new capacity, which he assumed on
August 4.

Putin and Yanukovych are expected to focus on controversial issues of
bilateral relations, including supplies of Russian natural gas to Ukraine.

"Russia believes President Putin and Premier Yanukovych will have the chance
to have an extensive talk during the informal summit," said Sergei
Prikhodko, a Russian presidential aide.

Yanukovych, who is currently meeting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov,
said he was seeking to improve Russian-Ukrainian relations during his trip
and prepare the ground for a future meeting between the Russian and
Ukrainian presidents.

The Kremlin official also said the leaders would discuss formation of the
common energy market as part of a Russian initiative to set up international
centers offering nuclear fuel services announced by President Vladimir Putin
at the Eurasec summit in St. Petersburg in January.

"We need to create a prototype of such global infrastructure that would
enable all concerned parties to have equal access to nuclear energy. I would
like to emphasize that non-proliferation requirements have to be reliably
observed in the process," Putin said.

The president said the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic
Energy Agency, should oversee the centers.

"A system of IAEA-controlled international centers offering nuclear fuel
services, including enrichment, without discrimination, should become a key
element of the suggested infrastructure," he said then.

The Kremlin source said the leaders would also discuss the preparation of
documents establishing the legal basis for Uzbekistan’s accession to
Eurasec.

The five members of Eurasec, set up in 2000, agreed in January to admit
Uzbekistan to the organization, which also includes Moldova, Armenia and
Ukraine as observers.