MP: Russia’s Economic Interests Should Remain Priority in WTO Talks

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Duma Committee on International Affairs, told journalists on 9 March that Russia mustn’t sacrifice its economic interests merely to secure quicker accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), newsgeorgia.ru reported the same day, citing RIA Novosti. “Russia must stick firmly by its negotiating positions…For us, entry into the WTO is not an objective in and of itself,” he said, adding that Russia will join the WTO only when Moscow is certain of an outcome that benefits Russia’s economic interests. (www.newsgeorgia.ru, www.rian.ru, March 9)

-- 03/23/2006