DUSHANBE , July 5, 2010, Asia-Plus – A session of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) has opened in the Kazakh capital Astana.

According to Russia ’s RIA Novosti, the session is expected to result in signing of a number of documents, including the Community budget and documents on the Community Court .

The session that has brought together heads of state from Kazakhstan , Belarus , Kyrgyzstan , Russia and Tajikistan is considering a number of issues related to functioning of the Community and implementation of the adopted decision.   In connection with the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Community (the Treaty was signed on October 10, 2000), heads of state from the EAEC countries also plan to make a joint statement.

Joint measures to overcome effects of the global financial crisis are an important component of activity of the Community and the first Russian Vice-Premier Igor Shuvalov will report on this subject, RIA Novosti cited a source in Kremlin.

The session is also considering documents on creation of the EAEC Court and the EAEC heads of state will sign the Statute of the Court of the Eurasian Economic Community that will define structure, membership and powers of the Court.   The Community Court deals with disputes of economic character arising between the Parties on matters relating to the implementation of resolutions of organs of the Eurasian Economic Community and the provisions of treaties in force within the Community, and hands down interpretations and rulings on them.

The EAEC heads of state will also consider the EAEC budget message and the Community budget for 2011.   These documents are dedicated to promote solutions to the main tasks – creation of a common energy market, providing food and environmental security, environmental protection, peaceful use of atomic energy, formation of a common market for transportation services, and realization of the Community transit potential, RIA Novosti reported.

A summit of the Customs Union will take place on sidelines of the EAEC Interstate Council session in Astana.

Tajik delegation participating at the EAEC Interstate Council session is led by President Emomali and consists of Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, State Adviser to the President for International Policy Erkin Rahmatulloyev, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Hamrakiyev and Minister of Finance Safarali Najmiddinov.

The initial concept of the Eurasian Economic Community was first proposed in October 2000, as a successor to the CIS Customs Union, when Belarus , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Russia , and Tajikistan signed a treaty on broad economic and trade cooperation.   The organization was formally created with the ratification of that treaty in May 2001.   The initial five-member group was further expanded in May 2002 when Moldova and Ukraine were granted observer status, and again in April 2003, when Armenia gained observer status.   In January 2006, Uzbekistan joined EAEC.   But alter in 2008 Uzbekistan decided to temporarily suspend its membership.