Евразийское экономическое сообщество

AGREEMENT

on the Customs union

of 20 January 1995¹

The Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation, on the one part, and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the other part, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties,

striving to further promote sustainable and mutually beneficial economic relations,

intending to continue performance of a Treaty on the creation of an Economic Union of September 24, 1993,

willing to proceed with forming a Сustoms union,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties shall form a Сustoms union whose objectives and principles, mechanics and stages, functioning, as well as customs duties, taxes and levies and the introduction of temporary restrictions and customs control are laid down in the Agreement on the customs union entered into by and between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on January 6, 1995.

Article 2

The Contracting Parties shall assume to the fullest extent their rights and obligations arising from the Agreement on the Сustoms union entered into by and between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus of January 6, 1995 as regards objectives, functioning principles, mechanics and stages of the Сustoms union, distribution of customs duties, taxes and levies, and the introduction of temporary restrictions and customs clearance.

Regulation of the foreign economic activities of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be carried out in accordance with the Agreement entered into by and between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Uniform Regulation of Foreign Economic Activities of January 20, 1995.

Article 3

To perform this Agreement, the Contracting Parties, based on separate agreement, shall establish the Сustoms union executive organ.

Prior to establishment of the Customs union executive organ, the Contracting Parties will follow provisions of the Agreement entered into by and between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on January 6, 1995.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties agreed that Agreement entered into by and between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Uniform Regulation of Foreign Economic Activities of January 20, 1995, and the Protocol on a free trade regime without exceptions and restrictions between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan of January 20, 1995 shall constitute an integral part hereof.

Article 5

This Agreement shall not affect the right of any Contracting Party to undertake measures in accordance with international and internal laws required to ensure national security, public order, health or morals of the citizens, the cultural and historical heritage of their people or protection of rare animals and plants.

Article 6

All disputes and discrepancies arising between the Contracting Parties in respect of interpretation and/or application of the provisions hereof shall be resolved through consultations.

Article 7

This Agreement shall not affect any other international treaties formed by the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan which do not contradict the Agreement.

Article 8

Any Contracting Party may withdraw from its participation herein by giving not less than twelve months’ notice of its intention to denounce the Agreement to the other Contracting Party.

Article 9

This Agreement shall be temporarily effective from the moment of signing and shall come into force and effect from the date of the exchange of notices on the accomplishment of internal procedures in the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan required for its coming into effect.

Done at Minsk on January 20, 1995 in a single original in the Russian language. The original shall be deposited in the Archives of the Government of the Russian Federation, which shall transmit a certified copy thereof to each Contracting Party.

For the Government

of the Republic of Belarus                                 S. Ling

For the Government

of the Republic of Kazakhstan                          A. Kazhegeldin

For the Government

of the Russian Federation                                 V. Chernomyrdin