Azarov: Association with EU not to prevent cooperation with CU

The Association Agreement with the European Union will not prevent cooperation between Ukraine and the Customs Union, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said, opening the government’s meeting, ForUm correspondent reports.

"The restructuring of the domestic economy will open up new prospects for the intensification of cooperation of Ukraine with countries of the Customs Union and the CIS. The Association Agreement has no provisions that would prevent our plans to expand cooperation with the CU, the CIS countries and other partners outside the EU," Azarov said.

The Prime Minister also said that yesterday he approved the plan to consider agreements of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, which Ukraine can join.

"I instruct the Economic Development and Trade Ministry to coordinate the work on harmonization of our economy in a free trade area with the EU under conditions that operate in the CU," the Prime Minister said.