Azarov: Russia agreed to participate in trilateral commission on trade

KYIV, November 22 /Ukrinform/. Russia has agreed to participate in the commission on trade and economic cooperation with the participation of Ukraine and the European Union.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said this at the Ukrainian parliament on Friday.

"We proposed holding negotiations on the settlement of controversial issues in a trilateral format, with the participation of Ukraine, the EU and Russia. This is a very important international issue amid the ongoing global recession. After long-lasting and difficult negotiations, Russia has agreed to hold such negotiations," he said.

Azarov said that the main condition put forward by Russia for the negotiations is holding them before the signature of an association and free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

"The holding of negotiations will help remove contradictions and continue walking a defined strategic way, without any catastrophic losses to the Ukrainian economy. Both the president and the government will continue to pursue a course of reforms aimed not European integration and the development of cooperation with all of our strategic partners," he said.

Azarov recalled that the main reason for the worsening of trade and economic relations between Ukraine and Russia and, in particular, the introduction of protective measures by Russia, was a possible change of the trade and economic regime between Ukraine and the EU.

"Our partners are concerned about a possible duty-free import through Ukraine of European goods and significant economic losses from this. Therefore, it was proposed to hold trilateral talks on the settlement of disputable issues," Azarov said.

As reported, on November 21, the Cabinet of Ministers issued a decree, according to which the process of preparations for the conclusion of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU has been suspended.

According to the decree, the Foreign Ministry, along with the Economic Development and Trade Ministry and the Industrial Policy Ministry, was instructed to propose that the European Union and Russia set up a trilateral commission to work out a number of issues aimed at the restoration of lost volumes of production and directions of trade and economic relations, the extension and promotion of international trade, further liberalization of the market, and the coordination of the regulatory framework for the improvement of conditions to conduct entrepreneurial activities.

Ukraine and the EU wanted to sign the association agreement at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

ap