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Director-General's
speech to the Round Table Meeting
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President Putin
confirmed that the integration of Russia into the multilateral trading
system was a top priority of the Russian Government. He said steps
were being taken, including in the legislative field, to facilitate
the negotiations under way and bring them to an early conclusion. The
introduction of new legislation required under WTO Agreements was seen
as an integral part of the general economic reform programme pursued
by the Russian Government. The Director-General reiterated his support
for rapid progress in the accession process and assured President
Putin of the continuing support of the WTO for the Russian
Federation's early membership. He stressed that the WTO Secretariat
will continue to provide all possible forms of assistance to the
Russian Government.
The
Director-General was in Moscow to participate in a Round Table Meeting
on "Russia, the International Economy and the World Trade
Organization", sponsored by the Swedish Presidency and the
Commission of the European Communities. The Round Table was also
attended by the Russian Premier, Mr. Mikhail Kasyanov, the Deputy
Premier and Minister of Finance, Mr. Aleskey Kudrin, the Minister of
Economic Development and Trade, Mr. German Gref, the Minister of Trade
of Sweden Mr. Leif Pagrotsky, the EU Commissioner for Trade, Mr.
Pascal Lamy and the Chairman of the Working Party on the Accession of
the Russian Federation to the WTO, Ambassador Kare Bryn of Norway.
A
copy of the Director-General's speech
to the Round Table Meeting is available on the WTO website.
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