YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A document on the formation of a free trade zone with CIS countries which was signed in 1994 is now at the stage of ratification–reported Hrair Aramian–head of the department for economic cooperation at the Trade and Industry Ministry of Armenia.
He emphasized that the zone of free trade will allow economic agents to trade with these countries paying no customs duties–though customs borders will still exist.
That agreement allows free transportation of goods and services.
According to Aramian–currently Armenia enjoys free trade relations with almost all CIS-member states–except for Belarus–Uzbekistan–and Azerbaijan.
He said the program of all-round economic cooperation may be carried out both with CIS and the European Union. And the opinion that such contacts exclude one another is a delusion.
Another agreement has been signed under which BSEC-member states which do not have the regime of foreign trade are to conclude bilateral agreemen’s.
Aramian reported that this document as well has been worked on during a recent working meeting in Armenia which discussed a program of actions aimed at forming a free trade zone among BSEC-member states.
The development of ecologically pure industries in BSEC-member states became a subject for debate at a seminar organized by the BSEC international secretariat–UNIDO and the Chamber for Industry and Commerce of the Burs City–in Turkey–where the seminar was held.
The seminar paid special attention to the elaboration and installation of programs on ecologically pure production–the government’s role in the program–as well as the role and assistance of the UN Industrial Development Organization.
Eight of 11 BSEC-member states attended the discussion–while Egypt and Poland were present as observers. Armenia was represented by Boris Ghazarian–deputy head of the department for normative-methodist documen’s of the Ministry of the Environment.
A regular BSEC session is to take place in Yerevan in April to discuss issues of energy and communication.