Putin Says ‘Eurasian Integration’ Top Priority For Russia

(RIA Novosti – Moscow, June 10, 2013) Russian President Vladimir Putin has named promoting partnership with CIS countries, enhancing Eurasian integration in the framework of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space, and creating the Eurasian Economic Union by 2015 as most important priorities of Russia’s foreign policy.

At a meeting on federal executive bodies’ action plans to achieve Russian socio-economic development targets, the head of state pointed out that the aims of Russia’s foreign policy were strategic, and were above all to create favourable conditions for Russia’s long-term development, for modernizing the economy, for strengthening the position of Russian businesses on the world markets, and for expanding the cultural and humanitarian presence of the Russian Federation abroad.

“In view of this, what is of special importance is the development of both bilateral ties and various forms of multilateral diplomacy, above all I mean of course our work at the UN, BRICS, the G20, the G8 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. A most important priority is promoting partnership with our closest neighbours, the CIS countries, enhancing Eurasian integration in the framework of the Customs Union and Single Economic Space, and creating the Eurasian Economic Union by 2015,” Putin said.