Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that all of the necessary documents should be prepared as soon as possible in order to strengthen the practical implementation of the free trade area (FTA) agreement with the CIS.

"The next very important period of our cooperation is on the agenda now – [I mean] the gradual implementation and development of the FTA agreement with the CIS. It is important to prepare the documents to strengthen its practical meaning," he said while opening a meeting of the government on Wednesday.

The premier added that the agreements on free sales of services and transit via pipeline transportation should be drawn up, talks on reductions of export and import duties should be held, and an inventory of existing agreements should be carried out with the aim of canceling outdated agreements.

Azarov also said that the CIS countries are very important partners of Ukraine. He noted than in 2011 Ukraine's trade in goods and services with the CIS was estimated to be worth more than $70 billion.