Russia admitted to World
Trade Organization
Global trade ministers Friday accepted Russia's bid to join
the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The accession protocol was signed for Russia by Economic Development
Minister Elvira Nabiullina and for the WTO, by its Director General Pascal
Lamy.
Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov, President of
the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey, and WTO ministers attended the
ceremony of signing the accession protocol.
Russia has been working to join the WTO since 1993. The
last remaining obstacle for its entry has been Georgia, which has refused to
approve Russia's entry ever since the two countries fought a brief war in
August 2008 when Georgia attacked South Ossetia to bring it back under
Tbilisi's central control.
After the war, Russia recognised the independence of South
Ossetia and another ex-Georgian republic, Abkhazia.
Earlier Friday, WTO ministerial conference approved all the
documents relating to Russia's accession to the organisation including
commitments on market access for goods and services.
Russia will become a full member of this international
organisation with all its rights and responsibilities within 30 days of Russian
ratification, expected to occur in the summer of 2012, Russian officials at the
conference said.
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