CIS members approve free trade zone draft agreement

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members approved a free trade zone draft agreement, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said on Friday.

"The draft treaty was virtually approved. There are some issues that are still requiring further coordination and discussion," Lebedev told a press conference after the 49th meeting of the CIS Economic Council in Yalta, southern Ukraine.

The document will be discussed by the heads of governments of CIS members on May 19, he added.

The free trade zone agreement has been initiated by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development in 2008. Earlier, Russian officials said the CIS free trade zone could become operational by the end of 2011.
(Source:http://news.xinhuanet.com)