Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman said that Moldova cannot become part of the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union as this organization’s tariff policies run counter to the commitments made by Moldova when it joined the World Trade Organization, IPN reports.

Natalia Gherman also said the fact that Moldova will not join the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union will not affect the commercial-economic development of the country in the context of the Free Trade Agreement with the Commonwealth of Independent States, to which Moldova is a party.

According to the last Public Opinion Barometer, half of Moldova’s population wants the country to join the European Union, while the other half is for joining the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union.