ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the underlying reasons why the Central Asian leaders in their summit meeting on December 13, 1991 decided to join Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Alma Ata on December 21, 1991 and signed an agreement as co-founders of the loose and hastily formed institution. It details statistics to give new economic evaluation of the distortions in trade and national income balances caused by Soviet economic practices, including prices established on a non-economic basis, the use of turnover taxes, and subsidies. Post-Soviet developments have confirmed that it is impossible to achieve real independence overnight, and it is especially unrealistic in the economic field because of the interdependence of the republics and the lack of infrastructures to reorient them towards countries outside CIS. The chapter explains the decision the Central Asian Republics and also Russia, Belorussia, and Armenia to revitalize some Union institutions, organize an economic arbitration court and take other steps towards inter-republican trade and economic integration.
