Russia not giving up idea of joining OGP - Timakova
VILLAGE OF NOVOMIKHAILOVSKY, Krasnodar Territory. May 20 (Interfax) - Russia is not completely giving up the idea of joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), but would like its proposals to be considered, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's press secretary Natalia Timakova said.
"There is no global refusal from this idea but we would like our opinions and proposals to be taken into account," Timakova told reporters on Monday.
Timakova said that "Russia had its offers on the OGP regulations, which have been sent for consideration."
The press secretary said that the withdrawal of Russia's application to join the OGP was in accordance with the Russian government. "Open Government Minister Mikhail Abyzov took active part in making this decision," she said.
Kommersant newspaper has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had postponed Russia's joining the OGP, which was scheduled for 2012 during Medvedev's presidency.
Developing "the national plan of actions" under the Open Government on joining the OGP started in Russia in 2012. The plan was to be presented to the OGP leaders in London on April 23-24 and formal entrance was scheduled for the OGP summit in September, the newspaper reported.
The postponement is mainly related to technicalities, the newspaper reported on Monday citing Abyzov.
"OGP principles require serious changes. That is why President Putin ordered to prepare our proposals, aimed at optimizing OGP principles and mechanisms of work, jointly with the Foreign Ministry," Abyzov said.
Abyzov said that in particular, the Russian side wanted the evaluation of a country's openness the OGP gave "to have direct impact on ratings of the country's investment attractiveness," for instance Doing Business of the World Bank [Russia takes 101st place in this rating on the simplicity of registering companies].
"Then the membership in the Partnership will gain material sense, besides practice exchange," Abyzov said.
Abyzov said that the depth of involvement in the OGP could vary, for example as an observer.
The proposals should be ready by the end of 2013, the newspaper reported citing Abyzov.