Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a memorandum of granting observer status to Ukraine in the Customs Union (CU).

This was reported on the personal website of Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov.

"Today we are at a cabinet meeting approved a memorandum, worked with the advice of the Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh sides. Observer status will allow us to effectively defend their interests in the Customs Union "- said Azarov during a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko.

Azarov expressed hope that Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan agree to grant Ukraine the status of an observer in MS.

"We hope that the question that we asked the leadership of the three countries - Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, - consider and decide positively," - said Azarov.

He also expressed the hope that by the end of 2013 will be signed on access to pipeline transportation provided under the agreement on free trade zone in the CIS. "This will get rid of monopoly" Gazprom "in the market for gas and oil," - said the prime minister of Ukraine.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine expects that the issue of observer status in the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will consider May 29 during a meeting of the presidents of the four countries.