Russia hopes to finish WTO talks by yearend
GORKI. October 30. KAZINFORM Russia hopes to finish talks on gaining membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the end of the year, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
Medvedev, who is accepting in Moscow Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey, said that apart from the Russian-Swiss relations he would discuss "a situation about Russia's accession to the WTO" since Switzerland is a mediator in Russia's WTO accession talks.
"I hope that today's talks will be successful and...Russia will join the WTO till the end of the year," Calmy-Rey said.
"We would also like it," Medvedev added.
Russia has been in membership talks with the 153-nation WTO for 17 years and remains the only major economy still outside the organization. A dispute with Georgia remains the main stumbling block that hinders the country's joining the global trade body; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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