Belarus does not gain or lose much in customs union with Russia and Kazakhstan: Lukashenka

Belarus does not gain or lose in the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, Alyaksandr Lukashenka told the official news agency BELTA when on a working visit to the Homel region on Friday. Alyaksandr Lukashenka told journalists that during one of the closed meetings he had asked Russian president Dmitry Medvedev if the customs union was created in order to scare the West. "If you are not taking us to WTO, maybe we should create our own WTA here. If yes, tell us and maybe we will support you in this". The reply of the Russian president was allegedly like this: "What's wrong with it?! Perhaps, it is true".

In the view of Lukashenka, the customs union is somewhat a big game for Russia. He says Russis is currently gaining in this union. Belarus is not gaining yet but is not losing either like Kazakhstan, Lukashenka said.

"Later, there will be talks about the equal access to the pipeline transport. It means Kazakhstan should get a right to transport its goods to Belarus via the Russian routes. Let's see if Russia agrees to let the Kazakh crude oil and natural gas into its pipelines in order to create competition on the market. We will see then if Russia really needs the customs union or not", said Lukashenka.