Most of CIS states agreed to set up free trade regimeOctober 19, 2011 - 09:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The majority of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries have agreed to set up a free trade regime after two decades of debate, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said late on Tuesday, October 18. "As a result of long, heated, but constructive negotiations we have made a decision on the main issue we've gathered here for today. We've agreed today to sign an agreement on a free trade zone in the CIS," Putin said, RIA Novosti reported. The CIS includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Putin said the document was signed by all the CIS states except Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which will consider signing the agreement by the end of the year. "We will cancel export and import duties on certain groups of goods. There are certain exemptions ... but they will gradually become a thing of the past," Putin said. The CIS Prime Ministers also signed an agreement on the basic principles of currency regulation and currency controls in the CIS. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |