Free Republic

YALTA, Ukraine -- Leaders of former Soviet republics endorsed an ambitious plan Friday aimed at recreating the economic union that collapsed with the breakup of the Soviet Union, a move they stressed was a not a bid to turn back the clock but to pump up the region's sagging economic might. The Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose grouping of 12 former Soviet republics, agreed to move toward the eventual creation of a free trade zone stretching from Central Asia to the edge of the European Union. Leading the march were Russia and three of its neighbors, who signed a...

MOSCOW - The Russian government has approved a draft agreement on the creation of the single economic space linking Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. According to the Government Information Department, a corresponding decree was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. The draft agreement was submitted to the government by the Russian Economy Ministry; it was coordinated with the Russian Interior Ministry and other concerned federal executive agencies. Preliminary discussions on the agreement were held with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. According to the draft agreement, the customs territories of the countries-members of the single economic space will be united. The...