YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Eurasian Economic Union is open to CIS countries that have not joined it yet, reports “Armenpress”, referring to ITAR TASS.

“We are open to other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States”, Putin said on July 1 at a meeting with Russian diplomats in Moscow.

"Strengthening close and friendly relations, developing mutually beneficial economic cooperation with its neighbors - is a key strategic direction of Russia's foreign policy, designed for long term," - said the President.

He recalled the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union signed on May 29 in Astana, which "represents a qualitatively new stage of our cooperation." "In Eurasia a powerful, attractive for investors and business center of economic development is being created, a common market is being formed", - said Putin.

He noted that the new association "objectively is of great interest among the partners in the CIS."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped Armenia will soon become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and the negotiations with Kyrgyzstan are also "at an advanced stage."