Question of Russia's WTO membership to be decided by year-end.

MOSCOW, July 4 (Itar-Tass) -- The question of Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization is to be decided by the end of this year, the director of the trade negotiations department at the Economic Development Ministry, Maxim Medvedkov, said on Thursday.

"We have the strongest wish, and a well-founded one, to take the
process to a logical outcome by the end of the year," he said.

"The trade negotiations are practically over, some problems remain, but when placed next to what has been done already they look few," he said.

Medvedkov is certain that Russia will benefit from being a WTO member.

Over the past eighteen years the negotiations have been underway this certainly has grown stronger.

"If we are to build an innovative economy, we should be aware that it will be unable to operate outside the global system of relations," he said. "WTO membership will benefit most Russian industries and the Russian consumers."

Medvedkov said the WTO was looking forward to the day when Russia
joined it, but at the same time would like to get the highest admission fee possible.

"Our partners wish to play with us by the normal rules," he said. "As far as the admission fee is concerned, our task is very simple. We should negotiate the lowest price possible and to retain room for maneuver, just in case."