'Moscow must show willingness to join WTO'
Friday, 19 October 2007
BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (AFP): Russia must show a real political willingness if it is to secure membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said yesterday.
"We have arrived at a point where only political will in Moscow can close the remaining distance (in the negotiations)," he said in a speech at the EU-Russia centre in Brussels.
"I hope Russia will capitalise on the time remaining to this administration to resolve the final issues, rather than pushing them onto the desk of its successor," he said, referring to elections in Russia in December.
He urged Russia, along with the EU, to "strive to resolve the remaining issues" ahead of an EU-Russia summit in Mafra, western Portugal on October 26.
"We have arrived at a point where only political will in Moscow can close the remaining distance (in the negotiations)," he said in a speech at the EU-Russia centre in Brussels.
"I hope Russia will capitalise on the time remaining to this administration to resolve the final issues, rather than pushing them onto the desk of its successor," he said, referring to elections in Russia in December.
He urged Russia, along with the EU, to "strive to resolve the remaining issues" ahead of an EU-Russia summit in Mafra, western Portugal on October 26.