Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
From the transcript:
Question: What was meant in Mr. Mishustin’s speech when he said that it is necessary to strengthen control over the cost of goods entering the internal market of the EAEU.
A. Overchuk: This is an issue that has been consistently discussed at a number of recent meetings of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, including the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission. It is related to improving customs administration. As you know, we have a common customs contour, a common customs border in the union. And we are working on unifying the requirements for determining customs value, as well as on improving the exchange of information between customs authorities and the union commission.
And yesterday, at a narrow meeting, a report was heard from the minister of the board, who is responsible for customs issues, on the work done.
Question: Today, negotiations also took place with the First Vice President of Iran, Mr. Aref. Could you tell us what topics were discussed?
A. Overchuk: Our traditional themes.
As you know, we have entered into force a Free Trade Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is a very important document, since it actually opens up opportunities to trade with zero rates on more than 90% of items. Accordingly, both the Eurasian Economic Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran are mutually interested in this agreement yielding results. Therefore, the issues of how we can now set up the implementation of this agreement were discussed. It is clear that this will take time, but in principle, today we already see an increase in mutual trade with Iran.
Context
Official visit of Mikhail Mishustin to the Kyrgyz Republic
The second question concerns transport and logistics. We discussed the nuances of the construction of the railway on the Rasht-Astara section, about how the land purchase is going there. In fact, we have already started the work. Technical surveys are underway on the land plots that are being purchased by the Iranian government. These are such working moments.
They also exchanged views on the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus region.
Question: How will this "Trump route", as it is now called, affect the development of the "North-South" corridor? And what is Russia's position here now?
A. Overchuk: Firstly, we consider this issue in the following plane: Armenia is our strategic ally, and if Armenia believes that something is good for them, then of course we support Armenia here. If they believe that signing the relevant declaration in Washington provides them with greater security guarantees, this is good, because we support the peace processes in the South Caucasus. This is entirely in our interests. Of course, within the framework of those agreements that could obviously be reached, some nuances arise that we will have to clarify together with the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.
Next week I am flying to Yerevan. The trip was planned in advance. It was agreed upon during a meeting in Altai. It is connected with the fact that a normative legal act, a resolution of the Government of Armenia, has appeared in the legal framework of the Republic of Armenia, which, in our opinion, contradicts the law of the Eurasian Economic Union. Mher Gerbertovich (Grigoryan) and I agreed that we would meet together with experts and discuss all our concerns in detail. Therefore, first of all, we will discuss this issue.
Later, there was a meeting in Washington, the signing of a declaration. Therefore, perhaps there will also be a meeting with Nikol Vovaevich Pashinyan, where we will discuss certain nuances that are primarily related to unblocking communications in the South Caucasus region.
You know that there is a trilateral working group at the level of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation, which is working on the implementation of the ninth point of the trilateral declaration of the leaders of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is related to unblocking. This working group discussed in detail all the nuances of unblocking. Therefore, it is important for us to know how far the parties have progressed in resolving the problems that were discussed within the framework of the trilateral working group.
A number of nuances affect the interests of the Russian Federation in the South Caucasus, primarily from the point of view of the development of railway communications.
As you know, the Armenian railway system is under the concession of Russian Railways. Therefore, it will be important for us to hear whether solutions have been found for the nuances that everyone involved in unblocking issues is well aware of. If such solutions have been found, then, of course, the issue of restoring the railways, and we are talking not only about the Meghri section, but also about the so-called northern section, which goes through Tavush on Gazakh, we are talking about unblocking Gyumri – Kars – this is, in fact, the exit to Turkey … If all these issues have been resolved, then we will need to translate this into the plane of technical and economic justifications and calculations. Look at the economics of these projects and, in fact, deal with unblocking. But again, this will require trilateral efforts within the framework of the interaction that we had and have with Armenia, with Azerbaijan.
I also have a meeting scheduled with the Azerbaijani side at the end of next week. I think we will also consider these issues there. So, there is progress.
Question: Is it planned in a trilateral format?
A. Overchuk: We will discuss it. Because if we are talking about restoring railways and improving transport connectivity in the region, then it is better to talk about it in a trilateral format.
Question: China and Russia signed an agreement on the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and the EAEU. How do you assess the outcome of this agreement?
A. Overchuk: This work is being carried out by the Eurasian Economic Commission. And the Minister of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Andrei Aleksandrovich Slepnev, is directly responsible for it. It would be better to ask him this question. I know that they are working, I know that they have contacts. Of course, the main focus there is on digitalization, interaction, including between the railways of the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and Kazakhstan. That is, this is a comprehensive work that is currently being carried out.
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