Phil Chuppa
(Reuters) - The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty on Thursday creating a vast trading bloc which they hope will challenge the economic might of the United States, the European Union and China.
The treaty forging the Eurasian Economic Union will come into force on Jan. 1, once it has passed the formality of being approved by the three former Soviet republics' parliaments.
"Our meeting today of course has a special and, without exaggeration, an epoch-making significance," Russian President Vladimir Putin said shortly before the treaty was signed in the Kazakh capital, Astana.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said he saw the new union as "a bridge between the East and the West".
Putin, whose hopes of securing a place in history with the union have been dented by Ukraine's refusal to join, denies the union is an attempt to recreate the Soviet empire which collapsed in 1991.
The new union's three countries have a combined population of more than 170 million people, and a gross domestic product between them of around $2.7 trillion. Kazakhstan and Russia are both oil producers.
The treaty deepens the ties forged when the three countries took the initial step of creating a customs union in 2010. It will guarantee free transit of goods, services, capital and workforce and coordinate policy for major economic sectors.
Ukraine opted not to join the union after its Moscow-leaning president was ousted in February, and its relations with Moscow are severely strained following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Other former Soviet republics have also refused to sign up for the union, although Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are considering joining.
news.yahoo.com/russia-forges-huge-economic-bloc-kazakhstan-belarus-082239070.html?soc_src=mediacontentstoryPhoto: (Reuters) - The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty on Thursday creating a vast trading bloc which they hope will challenge the economic might of the United States, the European Union and China.
The treaty forging the Eurasian Economic Union will come into force on Jan. 1, once it has passed the formality of being approved by the three former Soviet republics' parliaments.
"Our meeting today of course has a special and, without exaggeration, an epoch-making significance," Russian President Vladimir Putin said shortly before the treaty was signed in the Kazakh capital, Astana.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said he saw the new union as "a bridge between the East and the West".
Putin, whose hopes of securing a place in history with the union have been dented by Ukraine's refusal to join, denies the union is an attempt to recreate the Soviet empire which collapsed in 1991.
The new union's three countries have a combined population of more than 170 million people, and a gross domestic product between them of around $2.7 trillion. Kazakhstan and Russia are both oil producers.
The treaty deepens the ties forged when the three countries took the initial step of creating a customs union in 2010. It will guarantee free transit of goods, services, capital and workforce and coordinate policy for major economic sectors.
Ukraine opted not to join the union after its Moscow-leaning president was ousted in February, and its relations with Moscow are severely strained following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Other former Soviet republics have also refused to sign up for the union, although Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are considering joining.
news.yahoo.com/russia-forges-huge-economic-bloc-kazakhstan-belarus-082239070.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory
Donald Marshall anything to kill the dollar...
Thyra Dawn Winter Did you guys see the NBC interview last night with Snowden?He claims that Putin never look for him to find out what he knows. Come on... The guy who has top secret info about the enemy is hiding under your wings and you won't take advantage? How is this playing at the cc?
Donald Marshall it's a big mess. I'm the monkeywrench in the plan.
Laura Coffey
In case anyone missed it... He said to "Ask them" why he is in Russia... and admits he is still working for them...
Edward Snowden NBC NEWS FULL INTERVIEW 2014
Edward Snowden the full interview with NBC news and Brian Williams. (2014). May 2014.
Donald Marshall Snowden is at cloning... part of the scam.
Laura Coffey Agreed... he admits it too... well not the cloning but that "they" want him there... gee for some reason... He says... "When people ask me why I am in Russia... I say, why don't you ask the State Department?"
Donald Marshall he is gonna be in some deep shit.
Laura Coffey Well they are in some deep Snow...
Ed Cruz Its shit
Laura Coffey Another thing.. they are saying his motive is that he can 'Sleep at Night' but what he says is 'I've GAINED THE ABILITY to put my head down on the pillow each night and KNOW that I did the right thing' <<<------ hint hint
Anette Bregi Well, IF he's talking about having his clone activated during REM sleep, surely, they could still do this, regardless of where the real guy is in the world.
Geno Kalmes Donald will you talk about how much of everything is controlled by the talmudic rabbis?
Donald Marshall no
