 Some Russian policymakers are frustrated by the WTO talks |
Russia may delay joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) if it has to make too many difficult concessions, a parliamentary representative has said. The State Duma speaker, Boris Gryzlov, warned that accession to the WTO should "take place only on favourable terms".
Russia has been trying to join the WTO for more than 10 years.
The latest comments came after US politicians said Russia's democratic record and stance over Iran's nuclear plans would also be taken into account.
"Progress being made in reversing antidemocratic trends and perceptions as to progress being made in Iran do colour the positions of the US Senate," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said during a visit to Moscow on Monday.
Beyond bounds
Mr Gryzlov hit back by saying that: "Russia's accession to the WTO should take place only on favourable terms. If conditions do not suit our country, than it will be delayed for a long period."
Russia has been getting frustrated by the slow progress of its talks to the WTO, despite the fact that it has undertaken reforms to meet the organisation's economic criteria for membership.
Maksim Medvedkov, head of Russia's delegation at the WTO, played down any hint of a rift, saying that talks would continue "for as long as necessary to find solutions which would satisfy Russia; quality rather than speed is important".
However, he added: "Certain demands go beyond our economic possibilities and are at variance with our view of WTO membership."
Mr Medvedkov added that Russia had every reason to believe that "its ticket to the WTO has been paid for to a great degree" and was confident that talks would be concluded in weeks rather than months and years.
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