Russian Premier: Russia-WTO negotiations enter final stage

Negotiations concerning Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation /WTO/ have virtually entered the final stage. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasayanov made this statement on Thursday when opening a cabinet session dedicated to the discussion of the negotiations' progress.

"Now we know what our trade partners expect from Russia," the Premier stated. According to him, the number of stumbling blocks is decreasing, but they are crucial with regard to the development of both Russia's economy as a whole and its industries.

Mikhail Kasyanov stressed that Russia's primary objective in a bid to join the WTO was to obtain new trade advantages, gain access to new markets and reinforce Russian exporters' positions on markets they were already working on provided that Russia would be accepted on standard terms.