Queues form on border with Kazakhstan after Kyrgyzstan’s accession to EAEU - economy ministry

BISHKEK, August 19. /TASS/. Cargo flow from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan has considerably increased after the former’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) which led to long queues at the border, Kyrgyzstan’s economy ministry told TASS on Wednesday. "The flow of individuals and transport carrying goods has considerably increased from our republic to Kazakhstan," the economy ministry said. For the first few days after the country’s accession to EAEU, "transport lines formed at checkpoints, in particular at Ak-Zhol, Chaldybar and Ak-Tilek checkpoints on the border with Kazakhstan," it added noting that "the situation will normalize soon." "Participants of the foreign-economic activity are adapting to procedures of filling out passes which creates certain delays at checkpoints," the economy ministry said. On average, about 550-580 cargo trucks cross the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan every day. Kyrgyzstan became a full-fledged member of EAEU on August 12 when a symbolic ceremony of lifting customs control was held at the Ak-Zhol checkpoint on the Bishkek-Almaty highway and was attended by Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Temir Sariyev and Kazakhstan’s First Premier Bakhytzhan Sagintayev. The presidents of the two countries Almazbek Atambayev and Nursultan Nazarbayev watched the ceremony live on video from the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata. Eurasian Economic Union The EAEU, which currently comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, is a new integration association. It started functioning from January 1, 2015 instead of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC). The former officially ceased to exist on October 10, 2014. The Treaty on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union was signed by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on May 29, 2014 in Astana. The agreement is the basic document defining the accords between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan for creating the Eurasian Economic Union for the free movement of goods, services, capital and workforce and conducting coordinated, agreed or common policies in key sectors of the economy, such as energy, industry, agriculture and transport. The agreement stipulates the transition of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to the next stage of integration after the Customs Union and the common economic space. Read more