DISCUSSIONS ON 3RD VERSION OF FINAL REPORT ON RUSSIA'S ACCESSION TO WTO TOOK PLACE IN GENEVA

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GENEVA, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian delegation and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat have held discussions on the third version of the final report on Russia's accession to the WTO.

The third version will be published next week, according to Maxim Medvedkov, Director of the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry's Trade Talks Department, who is leading the Russian delegation at WTO talks.

"This is not a final version, of course, but we believe it will make a basis for further moves to the ideal version that will reflect the results of all negotiations," said Mr. Medvedkov.

Beside, the Russian delegation held a round of bilateral talks on access to the commodity and services market with Norway, Japan and Canada in Geneva this week.

"Everything is going on smoothly as there were no disagreeable surprises although there were no nice surprises either, said Mr. Medvedkov. Talks have entered the phase when every party has to think hard before making a concession. However, the majority of the Group of Eight countries have displayed willingness to round off talks on mutually acceptable conditions."

"We still believe major bilateral talks will hopefully be completed before the end of this year or, with some countries, early next year. However, general talks are not over yet, far from that," said Mr. Medvedkov.

While in Geneva, Mr. Medvedkov also met Stefan Johannesson, who heads the working group on Russia's accession to the WTO. He said the group's next meeting would take place after November 15 this year.

One of the working group meetings will probably be devoted to customs regulation, according to Mr. Medvedkov.

"This problem has stirred heated debates here, and we will, probably, have to elaborate on the idea behind our steps to implement the new Customs Code after the administrative reform," added Mr. Medvedkov.

Next week, the Russian delegates are expected to hold bilateral talks with the United States in Washington. Efforts against "piracy" and those to ensure intellectual property rights in Russia will dominate the agenda of talks in Washington, according to Mr. Medvedkov.

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