Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev says his country will not join a Russia-led customs union based on a road map that was "prepared without Kyrgyzstan's involvement."
Atambaev told journalists in Bishkek on December 16 that although Kyrgyzstan, "unlike Ukraine, does not have many choices, we will choose the path that is good for us."
He implied that Russia had forced the road map on Bishkek.
Last week, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Joomart Otorbaev complained that Kyrgyz experts had not been involved in the outlining of the current road map and, therefore, it might cause "social problems and instability," if implemented.
The CIS Customs Union was launched in 2011 and currently consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Moscow has said the union will be widened into a Eurasian Economic Union, modeled after the European Union, by 2015.
Atambaev told journalists in Bishkek on December 16 that although Kyrgyzstan, "unlike Ukraine, does not have many choices, we will choose the path that is good for us."
He implied that Russia had forced the road map on Bishkek.
Last week, Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Joomart Otorbaev complained that Kyrgyz experts had not been involved in the outlining of the current road map and, therefore, it might cause "social problems and instability," if implemented.
The CIS Customs Union was launched in 2011 and currently consists of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
Moscow has said the union will be widened into a Eurasian Economic Union, modeled after the European Union, by 2015.
