Another round of negotiations on Russia's entry into the WTO draws to a close in Geneva

Another round of negotiations in Geneva has concluded, having taken a decision to draft the second, additional and specified, variant of the final document of the Working Group on Russia's Entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The head of the Russian delegation, Maxim Medvedkov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, spoke about it after the completion of the formal session of the WTO Working Group.

The decision of its Chairman Kare Bryn (Norway), which reflects progress in the negotiation process on Russia's joining the WTO, and the extensive programme for further actions are the main result of the strenuous work of the Russian representative delegation with the leading foreign trade partners - members of the Working Group.

As the Deputy Minister said, summing up the results of the round we can say that "we are now in a progressing stage of joining the WTO." Having pointed the difficulties in achieving a compromise on a number of problems (support of agriculture, internal prices of electrical resources, protective measures on some kinds of services and products), Maxim Medvedkov said that "it is possible to build a bridge (of concord) when there is mutual desire and understanding, and this bridge must be built from both sides." At the same time the head of the Russian delegation underscored that as far as the energy resources are concerned "we are ready to consider any pragmatic proposals, but are not ready to take upon ourselves obligations exceeding the framework of the standard package for accessing the WTO." On the whole, pointed out Maxim Medvedkov, "the negotiations are going on constructively, though it is obvious already now that we are entering the most difficult stage when we shall have to do a considerable amount of home work to be prepared for the next stage."