KIEV, April 7 - Customs Union Commission Executive Secretary Sergei Glazyev described as "inept" claims by Ukrainian officials that Ukraine cannot join the Customs Union because of its membership of the World Trade Organization.

"The WTO sees customs unions as a progressive occurrence and welcomes their emergence. Therefore Ukraine's joining the Customs Union would not go against WTO standards. It is a matter of the country's sovereign choice, based on its own national interests," he said in an interview with Interfax.