On June 28, First Vice-Premier of Russia, Igor Shuvalov, stated that the second stage of the Customs Union forming was possible without Belarus' participation. According to the deputy head of the government of the Russian Federation, the final decision on the format of further integration within the Customs Union will be adopted in Astana on July 5.
As Igor Shuvalov recalled, this day, in Kazakhstan there would be held a meeting of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community, Interfax informs.
«This decision will concern the second phase of the Customs Union: either Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus that is tripartite format, as we agreed earlier. Or it will be Russia and Kazakhstan format», Russian deputy prime minister said.
However, the deputy head of Russia’s government noted that at the first stage of the Customs Union forming, which was launched on January 1, 2010, the CU operated on a tripartite basis. «The second phase — of a closer integration — is an issue to be solved on July 5», Igor Shuvalov said.
