Russia has 'more than 50 pct' chance of joining WTO in 2011 - presidential aide

[pampango]

Source: Rianovosti

Russian presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said on Friday that Russia has more than a 50 percent chance of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2011. Russia has a much higher chance of joining the organization now than it did two or three years ago, Dvorkovich said during a banking conference in Moscow.

Russia, which is the only major economy outside the global trade body, has been seeking WTO membership for 17 years, although the accession process usually takes from five to seven years.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama confirmed on October 1 that bilateral talks on Russia's accession to the organization are complete, which opens the way for Russia's membership.

Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin then said that preparations for Russia's accession to the WTO will take from two to four months, after which the accession procedure will begin.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101029/161127555.html

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Georgia: no backing down over Russia WTO entry

http://af.reuters.com/article/moroccoNews/idAFLDE69Q2H920101027

"Georgia will keep up its objections to Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for as long as necessary, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told Reuters on Wednesday.

As an existing member of the trade bloc, Georgia can veto Russia's long-delayed accession. But to do that risks irritating ally the United States, which backs Russia's entry to the WTO as part of a plan to "re-set" troubled relations with Moscow.

Georgia -- which fought a brief war with Russia in 2008 -- says Moscow should not be admitted to the organisation until it has agreed to a deal with Tbilisi over customs controls on the internationally recognised border between the two countries.

"We still do not see much will from Russia to reach out to us," Saakashvili said in an interview when asked about Georgia's position on the Russian WTO entry bid. "

[Ian David]

1. That still doesn't help Yakov Smirnoff find work again.

[ProudDad]

2. U.S. OUT OF THE WTO!!! (n/t)