PM: Armenia interested in cooperation with cis member countries’ customs agencies

YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. Armenia is interested in cooperation with CIS member countries’ customs agencies, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Wednesday at the ceremony of opening the 52nd meeting of heads of the CIS countries’ customs services.

“The council’s activity is focused on development and adoption of documents needed for full usage of the CIS countries’ capacity, harmonization of customs laws, simplification of customs regulations, development of methods for combating smuggling and protection of markets from shady and fake products,” he said.

The premier said that the mechanism of joint efforts against violation of customs rules is under elaboration now.

“I am convinced that shadow economy is mainly formed by criminal rings,” he said.

That is why struggle against customs law violation and corruption as well as protection of domestic markets from fake products, introduction of electronic declarations, electronic exchange of information and risk control should be among top-priority objectives of customs agencies.

Gagik Khachatryan, chairman of Armenian State Revenue Committee, who spoke at the meeting as well, expressed hope that this event would make its contribution to improvement of cooperation among the CIS countries’ customs agencies.

Heads and experts of Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Armenian customs agencies are taking part in the session.

The council of the heads of CIS customs services was established on December 23, 1993.

The council’s activity is aimed at deepening economic integration, coordinating steps of CIS countries’ customs agencies, harmonization of customs laws and creation of unified customs services.-0--