Dmitry Bolkunets: CIS institutions were created for former top officials

The EurAsEC and other CIS institutions must be dissolved.

Dmitry Bolkunets, an expert at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia), spoke to charter97.org about the meeting of the heads of state of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan.

“The summit was yet another ordinary meeting of politicians. I liked the proposal by Nursultan Nazarbayev to dissolve the EurAsEC. I think there are a number of organisations in the CIS integration process that must be checked and closed down, because officials do nothing there. I have the impression that certain organisations are formed specially for former high-ranking officials from different departments and ministries,” the politologist said.

The expert recalled the initiative to get rid of drawbacks in the Customs Union by 2015.

“Time will show how effective it will be and how many things will be implemented. Of course, Belarus will gain from duty-free deliveries of Russian oil. The same concerns the initiative to admit other states to the Customs Union. On the one hand, it can be understood, it is very interesting. On the other hand, if India joins the Customs Union, will it be profitable for such players as Russia and Belarus? It may undermine the interests of manufacturers in these countries. So, it may be just loud statements. Moreoever, we already heard them many times, when Yugoslavia wanted to join the 'united state' of Belarus and Russian during the war. There were similar proposals from Venezuela. We hear a lot of such statements, but they often remain just words. As for Armenia's admittance to the Customs Union, this project has more prospects than the admittance of India and can be fulfilled.

What concerns Ukraine, I'd like to say that it already made its choice. It chose the integration with the European institutions. But Russia doesn't want to lose its positions in the post-Soviet area, so it is so sensitive about this step. I think it (Russia) shouldn't regret it. It should take it as reality and refrain from hindering anyone. It should try to work as effectively as possible and remove borders between the countries instead of creating visa barriers, as certain Russian politician propose,” the economist thinks.

The politologist is sure that Lukashenka's new residence, where the summit took place, is an unnecessary building.

“I think constructing palaces with strange and ugly architecture is the absolute misuse of resources and a waste of money amid economic crisis in Belarus. There are enough places in Belarus to host summits,” Dmitry Bolkunets said.

We remind that a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was held yesterday in Minsk. Lukashenka, Nazarbayev and Putin participated in th event.

Photo: dw.de