Even after joining WTO Russia wants itself to decide on reform

Even after it joins the World Trade Organisation Russia should decide itself on the conduct of the reform, Maxim Medvedkov, Russian chief delegate at the talks on Russia's entry into the WTO, said on Friday during the Geneva-Moscow television link-up, arranged by RIA Novosti.

"We should not depend on the WTO in what regards the nature and rate of our reforms", said the deputy minister for economic development and trade, commenting on the regular round of talks in Geneva. Energy was in focus at these talks.

"Energy and gas are a very complicated thing to plan long-term reforming of the sector without being able to change the nature of reforms", Medvedkov explained. He said he got an impression that the negotiating partners understand this and a variant can be found "enabling us to decide on conduct, or no conduct of reforms".

Nedvedkov said that two weeks ago the European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lami gave his proposals on the gas sector to the Russian side. Moscow cannot agree with these proposals but, "the circle has been outlined and we'll narrow it", Medvedkov said.