Russia could end WTO talks in 2011, industrial assembly main stumbling block - Nabiullina
MOSCOW. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Industrial car assembly in Russia remains the main unresolved issue in talks about Russia's accession to the WTO, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina said at a VTB Capital forum.
While there is still one unresolved issue, the negotiation process cannot be considered to be over, she said. Nevertheless, Russia still "has the chance to complete talks before the end of the year," the minister said.
The plan for remaining accession talks, voiced at multilateral consultations at the end of July, envisages their completion by the WTO General Council meeting on December 14-16. A final formal meeting of the working group for Russia's accession to the WTO is planned for November 10-11 and informal multilateral consultations are to be concluded on October 24.
As well as the industrial assembly issue, Russia needs to resolve its disagreement with Georgia. Talks with Georgia are held in a trilateral format with Switzerland mediating.
When the working group completes its conclusive documents on accession, they will need to be approved by the WTO General Council. After that the documents are submitted to the Russian Federal Assembly for ratification. Once parliament has ratified the documents and they have been signed by the president, Russia will become an official full member of the WTO within 30 days.