Anatoly Lokot: “The place of Ukraine is in the Customs Union”

The deputy of the State Duma Anatoly Lokot (KPRF faction) is also a member of the Parliamentary meeting of the Union of Belarus and Russia. He always consistently supports the integration strengthening on the former Soviet Union. The deputy told to our portal what was 2012 year just in the development sense of integration processes:

- The Customs Union, certainly, has very good prospects! It is necessary to understand accurately that it doesn't mean the disappearance of borders – the borders remain, but there are united customs rules. A certain transition period is provided also, but already now it is possible to say that it is very significant step as there is an obvious movement towards the Common economic space.

Integration on the former Soviet Union braked in political sense, but went on other way – a way of economic integration. Well, let it be so: after all it is possible to go forward such way too. Though as I assume, it can appear longer.

- That is, the borders remain borders.

- We have no borders with Belarus because the united Union State is created. Our western border is not in the district of Smolensk, but near Brest – I would like to emphasize it. And everything is more difficult concerning the southern borders. Still the question: how far the border of Kazakhstan with China, with other adjacent states is closed by customs procedures. There are very serious problems. For example, drug traffic. So, we have a lot of work still. But those difficulties which we have, it is the difficulties of growth and we will overcome them.

- Probably, the most difficult question is about the entry of Ukraine in the Customs Union. How the situation will develop in your opinion?

- All participants of the Customs Union show interest in its expansion. And, of course, all are interested in the entry of Ukraine in the Customs Union, in that it, frankly speaking, didn't look with a side glance to Europe. Let's call things by their proper names! Ukraine has to be guided not to the West, but to the traditional allies, to the brotherly union with Russia.

But if with Belarus is everything clear, so with Ukraine the situation is more difficult. The relations Belarus — Europe are extremely clear and Ukraine should play these toys which are called the carrot about joining to the European Union, about the entry of the country into the European zone. It disturbs sometimes to our mutual understanding. It would be desirable that approach in Ukraine was pragmatical and we after all closer and clearer for it.

- What can convince Ukraine?

- While there is more policy in this question. The western areas of Ukraine unambiguously gravitate to Europe and it is obvious. But for other Ukraine the East is much closer! Let's take the same industry: if we speak about “Yuzhmash”, the coal-producing complex of Donbass, about metallurgy, so all this is focused on the former Soviet Union. Let's directly tell: the Ukrainian black earth looks faintly without the shovel made in Russia …

There is still a subject of energy resources. They try to look for alternative sources, carried on, for example, negotiations with Azerbaijan, even the lot of oil arrived from Venezuela… But it not the way out! There are natural geographical reasons which the politicians can't cancel therefore the relations with Russia have to develop, become closer.

- Some politicians in Armenia say that the republic needs to strive for the entry in the Customs Union too. Is such variant possible?

- I have to tell that the representatives of Armenia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are the observers in parliament of the Union State, they are present at sessions. Armenia is our traditional historical ally. Owing to a geographical position, it has nobody to hope any more except Russia. However, as we know, our countries have no general overland border. It is not easy to solve this collision, but, as they say, if there is a desire!

- How the situation in 2013 will develop in your opinion?

- Integration on the former Soviet Union will inevitably go deep. Development of a situation in world economy will promote it. Remember: the huge market of the USSR, its rich opportunities allowed the economy to keep independence of those big economic ailments which were in Europe and the USA. So, there is no alternative to integration in the territory of the former Soviet Union.

The results of the last meeting of presidents Putin and Lukashenko tell about it also. The essence is that the decision according “Beltransgaz” was found. Now the control over a pipe to Europe completely passes to “Gazprom”. It is a guarantee from any disorders, and, I hope, the guarantee of that there won’t be the disorders in Belarus too. I am happy that mutual interests are considered. And it is the big step forward in the advancement of the Common economic space. It would be desirable that in next year such steps were more on all directions.