He believes that the concessions Russia has already made within the negotiations to join the WTO are quite enough for entry.
He recalled that Russia is ready to lower tariffs on the import of industrial goods to 7.6-7.8 percent and agricultural products to 18 percent, as well as axe the support for domestic agriculture 22 times in comparison with the level in the late 1980s - 90 billion dollars annually.
"Add to it that we are ready to join without any exemptions all the WTO agreements", the source continued.
"This package of concessions makes up the 'entrance fee' we are ready to pay. A larger price would be unreasonable", he stressed.
Ninety percent of the WTO members view this price as reasonable, although "there are players who think Russia should pay more", the interviewee noted.
Some WTO members "have five or six requirements which can put the negotiations in a deadlock".
"A philosophical question arises: should Russia pay for its 'membership card' with concessions that may be extremely painful and even deadly for certain sectors (for instance, aviation)? Our answer is definitely not", the interviewee said.
At the same time, he stressed that the Russian government "still sees joining the WTO as the main goal of our foreign economic policy" and hopes that Russia will enter during the WTO ministerial conference in Hong-Kong in December 2005.
"We seriously hope that the negotiating process will be over in Hong-Kong next year", the source emphasized.
"Russia has every chance to become a WTO member next year. It is possible both technically and politically", he added.
