Poetin krijgt steun voor Russisch lidmaatschap aan de Wereldhandels Organisatie WTO (en)

Russia could secure agreement to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by the end of the year, following meetings held with EU leaders yesterday (November 6) in Rome.

"We reiterated the willingness to work together in order that Russia can enter the WTO before the end of 2004," European Commission President, Romano Prodi, said after the summit, naming a date previously considered optimistic by Russian officials.

Two key bilateral accords were also signed during the EU-Russia summit - one relating to scientific and technological cooperation and the other to cooperation between Europol and Russian police forces.

For his part, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, tried to reassure European Union leaders that Moscow would not discriminate against oil giant Yukos in its fraud and tax-evasion case.