MINSK, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - The common economic space that Russia authorities want to create will initially embrace Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said Friday.
The high-level group for a common economic space will hold its last session this Friday before the presidents from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine hold a summit.
Khristenko said common market experts from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine had finished drafting all 93 agreements on the common market. He added that currently Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan had harmonized the agreements while Ukraine had approved only a half of them.
"The Ukrainian side has started to change its approaches to its role and participation in the common market," he said.
Any attempt to transform documents will deteriorate their quality, Khristenko said.
"Three countries [Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan] have come to a mutual understanding, while Ukraine holds a special position and this issue has to be resolved by the presidents," the minister said.
At their summit, the presidents will discuss a new format of 25 agreements proposed by Ukraine to decide what to do, he said.
"So far, I do not see a possibility for Ukraine to join the common market with 14 agreements. At the first stage, the situation is simple: you either sign the whole package of 93 agreements or a part of it, but this package will not work for you unless you sign the whole of it," Khristenko said.
Khristenko added that representatives of the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan would also attend a session of the high-level group Friday.
"They expressed the desire to participate as observers," he said.
Khristenko said Uzbekistan could, in theory, become part of the common economic space.
