Russian newspapers are far from enthusiastic about the country's progress towards joining the World Trade Organization, following the agreement reached with the US in Hanoi.

One commentator says that for many Russians, joining the WTO will prove "a curse", and another says the agreement was in exchange for Moscow's compliance on North Korea and Iraq.

Russia is expected to join the WTO next year, becoming its 151st member. The talks have taken 12 years, but there is still no agreement either in Russian society or among experts on the questions as to whether Russian should be joining the WTO in the first place, and will it benefit from this or will it lose out?

For those who will keep their jobs, Russia's accession to the WTO is undoubtedly a positive factor. But for the rest, it is a curse. The question is: who will be greater in number - those who will lose out or those who will enjoy the benefits of global civilisation?

Bush has given Putin a present. It has happened. In six months' time, at the most in a year, Russia will join the World Trade Organization... Putin's aide Sergey Prikhodko also mentioned Bush's exclusive role, saying that far from all members of the US administration shared the view of their boss regarding Russia's entry to the WTO.

It seems the protocol is the price for Russia's compromise positions on North Korea and Iraq, something many experts were predicting before the start of the summit. However, when I read the Apec resolution I could not find in it any clause that was tougher than the resolution on North Korea adopted by the US Security Council some time ago.

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