The leaders of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan gathered in Kazakh capital to discuss further development of the Common Economic Space which was created by a four-side agreement in Yalta on September 19, 2003.
Mr Putin, Mr Lukashenko, Mr Kuchma and Mr Nazarbayev agreed to begin levying value-added tax in mutual trade of goods at the destination country from 1 January 2005, including natural gas, oil and gas condensates.
They ordered a High level group to prepare agreements necessary to simplify movement for citizens of the four countries across borders.
The Presidents signed a joint statement as well as approved the priority list of 29 international documents that are to be signed soon.
See also
Statement by the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Ukraine
January 15, 2004
Speech at an Enlarged Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member Countries of the Agreement on Common Economic Space
September 15, 2004
Summit of the Common Economic Space Member Countries
September 15, 2004