Kyrgyzstan might join Customs Union in September - minister.

BISHKEK, April 6 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyzstan might become a member of the
Customs Union (CU) as early as September 2011, the republic's Minister of
Economic Regulation Uchkunbek Tashbayev stated here on Wednesday.
A draft plan to join the CU will be submitted to the Kyrgyz Cabinet in
a few days. It was drawn by ministries and departments. In May, the
republic intends to apply for CU membership with the prime ministers of
Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.
"Our partners might make the final decision in September 2011, at a
meeting of the Customs Union's heads of states," Tashbayev said.
In his opinion, there are many positive points in favour of
Kyrgyzstan's joining the Customs Union. "We expect customs revenues in our
country to increase by 1.5 to 2 times, if the Customs Union greenlights
the admission of a new member," he explained.
At present, an interdepartmental group of CU experts arrived in
Bishkek to discuss the tariff problem and the legal aspects of joining the
organization.
Tashbayev reminded that unlike Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, the
republic is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). "But I don't
see any particular problems in it," the minister said, "because the
principles of the CU and the WTO are similar in many ways, and are built
upon integration in the world economy."
Therefore, while remaining a WTO member, Kyrgyzstan will continue the
talks over Customs Union accession.
The minister noted that the Customs Union members are Kyrgyzstan's
strategic partners. Recently, the republic's businesses have been actively
cooperating with Kazakh and Russian colleagues.
In Tashbayev's opinion, Kyrgyztan has practically arranged
comprehensive cooperation with Customs Union countries, so it only needs
to lend it an appropriate status.
Also, Kyrgyzstan's participation will enable the country to more
actively implement large joint projects and partially resolve the problem
of Kyrgyz labour migrants who work in Kazakhstan and Russia.