Russia to complete WTO accession talks in 2010

[Kshasty]

Source: RIA Novosti

Russia expects to complete negotiations on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2010, a Kremlin economic adviser said on Wednesday.

"Few substantive problems remain and negotiations can be concluded within several months," Arkady Dvorkovich said in an interview with Vesti 24 TV news channel.

Russia has been negotiating to enter the WTO for over 16 years, and is the only major economy not to have joined. Several former Soviet countries, and communist states such as China and Cuba, are already members.

Dvorkovich said the creation of a customs union between the former Soviet republics of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan would not impede their accession to the world trade club.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/business/20091216/157253483.html