Putin Calls Post-Soviet Countries to Unify Stances As They Join WTO

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan will be quick enough to unify their stances as they join the World Trade Organisation, hopes Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

He held a conference in the Kremlin today with members of a high-level team for a united quadripartite economic environment.

Efforts by that team offer opportunities to solve the problem, and Mr. Putin hopes they will be a success, he said to the gathering.

"We know how to reach the goal [united economic environment], but there are major obstacles on our road to it - I mean the four countries must coordinate their stances as they join the WTO," said the President. In that, he was "glad to highlight the team's assured progress as it has drafted a concept on which the united economic environment will form".

Mr. Putin expects the nearest team conference, with the venue in Minsk, Belarussian capital, to hit further targets as starting-point for subsequent efforts.