31/7 Tass 145a
GENEVA, July 31 (Itar-Tass) —— The final meeting of the Working group on Russia’s joining the World Trade Organisation is scheduled for November 10-11, Head of the Russian delegation at the talks on joining the WTO, Head of Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development’s department of trade negotiations Maxim Medvedkov said commenting on another two-day round of informal consultations.
Position of Stefan Johannesson, chairman of the WTO’s working group on Russia’s membership bid, is that “it is necessary to expect a technical opportunity of finalising the joining /of Russia to the WTO/ before the yearend, Medvedkov said. “He urged all the countries to be most active and to follow the scheduled offered.”
The explained the schedule offered as follows: in mid September there will be several meetings to agree on two outstanding updated articles of the working group’s report regarding veterinary and phyto-sanitary measures as well as investment measures in trade. By mid October, verification of Russia’s goods’ obligations should be finalised. On October 24, there will be a final informal meeting of the working group. On November 10-11, the working group will have its final formal meeting, Medvedkov explained. The scheduled is put together so that to finalise all the talks by the meeting of the WTO General Council due on December 14-16.
“This is a technical plan, and we shall work to follow it,” he assured.
Presently, the WTO unites 153 countries with 95 percent of the world trade turnover. Russia filed its application to join the organisation in 1994. In second half of 2010, the Russian Federation brisked up its negotiation efforts, for example by finalising its negotiations with the USA and EU.