|
|
 |
Russia and US May Sign WTO Entry Agreement Next Week
A summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization opens in Hanoi on Saturday where Russia and the United States are expected to sign the bilateral protocol on Russia’s accession to the WTO. Russia’s Vladimir Putin hopes to demonstrate solid support to the Asia-Pacific region while George W. Bush will try to show willingness to make changes in his foreign policy.
Russia’s accession to the WTO promises to be a highlight of the forum. Russia and the United States are expected to sign the bilateral protocol which will lift the last barrier on Russia’s way to the WTO. In return, the United States hopes to secure Russia’s succor in a number of foreign policy issues. After the Democrats won the Congress elections this month, President Bush needs to show real changes in policy towards Iraq, Iran and North Korea to safe his face.
George Bush and Vladimir Putin are to hold talks on Saturday where the U.S. president is to raise the issue of Iran. Reportedly, the leaders already discussed it during a short meeting in Moscow’s Vnukovo-2 airport.
The Russian president wants to show Russia’s willingness to turn to Asia. A few days before the start of the summit, Vietnamese newspapers published an article by Vladimir Putin where the Russian leader said that “as a Euroasian power” Russia hopes to develop its Siberian and Far Eastern regions with the help of its Eastern neighbors. Putin also suggested ensuring energy security in the region. “As a leading energy supplier to international markets Russia is open to cooperation in this field,” the article reads. The president is set to offer a number of projects on the construction of oil and gas pipelines to send its natural resources to Asia.
60 percent of Russia’s oil exports are delivered to Europe, and only 12 percent go to the Asia and Pacific region. Russia now hopes to boost energy supplies to the booming East.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 18, 2006
|
|
|
