'Single economic space' to start working fully by 2012

The single economic space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan should start working fully not later than in 2012, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said after the meeting of CIS Heads of State Council, the Interstate Council of Eurasian Economic Community and the Supreme Council of Customs Union in St. Petersburg. A free movement of goods, services, capital and labor force through the borders of member states is declared as the core principle of the Single Economic Space.

Belarusian Prime Minister Siarhei Sidorski noted that it is important to resolve several issues related to the functioning of the Customs union and to remove obstacles in mutual trade, reports Belapan news agency.