Eurasian Integration Yearbook 2012

2011: Data and ReviewsUkraine has participated actively in military and political cooperation. TheRussian Defence Ministry announced plans to purchase Russian-UkrainianAN-70 aircraft, Ukraine stated its intention to join in with Russian-BelarusianUnion Shield-2011 large-scale drills, and Russia and Ukraine negotiated thecontroversial issue of the Black Sea Fleet stationed in Crimea.REGIONAL ORGANISATIONSCISCIS Economic Court to settle Customs Union disputesJanuary 18, 2011Disputes within the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan are to besettled by the Economic Court of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Theprotocol amending the agreement between the CIS and the Eurasian EconomicCommunity (EurAsEC), which transfers the functions of the EurAsEC Court tothe CIS Economic Court, was signed in Moscow on January 17, 2011.Under this agreement, the Court will oversee compliance of CU documents withthe international agreements governing the CU, and will interpret internationalagreements and official Customs Union documents. The CIS Economic Courtwill settle disputes between the Customs Union Commission and its memberstates.The agreement also states that other disputes, which must be resolved accordingto international agreements applicable to EurAsEC and the CU, will also comeinto the remit of the CIS Economic Court.The document was signed by the Chairman of the CIS Economic Court FayzulloAbdullayev and EurAsEC Secretary General Tair Mansurov.CIS Executive Committee Press Service,IA Novosti-KazakhstanCIS Economic Council Approves Free Trade Area Draft AgreementApril 15, 2011The CIS Economic Council approved a draft Agreement on a Free Trade Areathat would bring the goal of liberalised trade a step closer for most of theformer Soviet republics. CIS heads of government are meeting to discuss thedocument in May 2011 in Minsk.The Free Trade Area Agreement is due to replace the current system that existsbetween CIS member states and is expected to decrease the number of goodsthat are subject to import duties.232 EDB Eurasian Integration Yearbook 2012