OREANDA-NEWS. February 26, 2008.  It’s necessary to intensify the development of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsECas much as possible, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said when meeting with EurAsEC Secretary General Tair Mansurov.

“The current rate of the EurAsEC development does not correlate with the goals we have set forth before the organisation,” the President said.

“Our position on the Eurasian integration is well-known,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “The formation of the Customs Union as a free open zone is the great goal which is worth working for,” he said.

The head of state said that the aggregate population of the EurAsEC member states is 206 million. “This is a huge market,” the President added.

According to him, despite the fact that the economies of the Community’s member states will be rapidly advancing soon, even given the barriers currently in place, the functioning of the EurAsEC is unlikely to be effective. “The Customs Union is designed to ensure real freedom of movement of capital. We do have experience in it – this is the experience of the Soviet Union,” the head of state said. “I assure you that you will always find a reliable support in Belarus,” Alexander Lukashenko added, addressing Tair Mansurov.