We, the heads of state of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Ukraine,
firmly resolved to unite our efforts directed towards the growth of the economy and raising the living standard of our peoples,
confirming our desire to increase economic cooperation in the framework of the Common Economic Space,
guided by the Agreement on the formation of a Common Economic Space of 19 September 2003, and proceeding to put into practice the statutes of the Complex of primary measures in forming the Common Economic Space, announce the following:
As we positively assess the work conducted by the High Level group for developing a normative legal base for the Common Economic Space, we have approved the list of 29 international documents that have top priority for signing. Implementing the statues contained in them should create the necessary conditions for increasing the economic integration of our countries and gradually moving towards the goals declared in the founding documents of the CES.
In order to give real stimulus to the development of trade and economic cooperation today, we have passed the decision to levy value-added tax on the “destination country” principle in mutual trade of goods, fully and without waivers, including on natural gas, oil and stable gas condensate.
As we attach great important to simplifying movement for our citizens across the borders of our four nations, we have ordered a high level group to prepare the necessary agreements by the end of 2004.
We, the heads of the four nations, express our certainty that the practical measures taken by us in the formation of the Common Economic Space will assist the economic and social progress of our countries and will be supported by our peoples.
President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma