Dialogue with OECD unfrozen, Russia focused on interaction in institutional reforms - Shuvalov
ST. PETERSBURG. June 18 (Interfax) - Russia and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development are gradually restoring their dialogue, which is important to Russia primarily from the point of view of institutional reforms rather than its accession to the organization, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has said.
"We have dialogue, interaction with the OECD, which used to be frozen for a certain period of time not at our initiative. We are now witnessing certain progress; interaction with us is intensifying on the level of working groups as regards the agenda, modernization of our social, political and economic institutes, and OECD best practices," he said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The OECD declared suspension of Russia's accession process in March of last year amid escalating tensions around Ukraine. "Whether we become a member or not is neither here nor there. It is much more important to us to have modern laws and institutions adjusted to this legislation," Shuvalov pointed out.
