Presidents of Customs Union states discuss ways of joining WTO in Astana

On July, 5th the meeting of presidents of Customs union states (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) will take place in Astana and will be dedicated to the ways of joining World trade organization. That was reported first vice-premier of Russia Igor Shuvalov to journalists in Brussels. In Brussels he participated in meetings with the president of European commission Joseph Manuel Barroso and supreme representative of EU on international affairs and security policy Katherine Ashton.

On July, 5^th the meeting of presidents of Customs union states (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) will take place in Astana and will be dedicated to the ways of joining World trade organization. That was reported first vice-premier of Russia Igor Shuvalov to journalists in Brussels. In Brussels he participated in meetings with the president of European commission Joseph Manuel Barroso and supreme representative of EU on international affairs and security policy Katherine Ashton.

Igor Shuvalov expressed the hope that Russia will join WTO till the end of the current year and believes that final negotiation process “will take several months”. “I believe that today we have a very good support from European Union and positive signals from the USA administration”, - said Russia vice premier. According to Shuvalov Customs union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan complies with “all WTO rules and major EU principles” and in this respect Russia is called to become “a bridge to Kazakhstan and Belarus”.

We would remind that Customs union member-states agreed earlier that they would continue the negotiations on WTO joining independently but coordinated their negotiation positions.

In June 2009 heads of governments of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus decided to notify WTO with intention to join the organization as a single customs territory. All three countries halted the bilateral negotiations on joining WTO in order to create the common Customs union position. In October 2009 Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were announced to resume negotiations on WTO joining separately but in compliance with the coordinated positions.

According to RIA Novosti materials