In order to develop trade and economic cooperation between CES member countries, starting from 1 January 2005, value-added tax will be levied on the “destination country” principle in mutual trade of goods between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. This will be carried out in full without any waivers, including on natural gas, oil, and stable gas condensate, reads the statement passed by the leaders of the four countries in Astana.
The Presidents also ordered a High level group to prepare agreements needed to simplify movement of citizens in crossing the borders of the four countries. They gave a positive assessment of the work by the Group for developing a normative legal base for the CES.
Implementing the statutes declared in the founding documents for the creation of the CES will produce the necessary conditions for increasing economic integration of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the statement reads.