WCO Sec Gen in favour of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan WTO membership.

MINSK, September 23 (ITAR-TASS) --World Customs Organization (WCO)
Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya considers Russia's, Kazakhstan's and
Belarus' accession to World Trade Organization vitally important, such was the stance, he declared on Wednesday in Minsk, where he is on a working visit.

The WCO notes "a significant progress of the three countries' work on
rapprochement and standardization of the customs procedures " and supports
the wish demonstrated by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to unify them in
accordance with the international standards, Kunio Mikuriya noted. This
will facilitate for all three the process of becoming WCO members,
Secretary General holds. And to admit these countries to WCO is vitally
necessary, he emphasized.
-0-kud