GERMANY MAY BACK RUSSIA IN JOINING WTO: EXPERT

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MOSCOW, April 10 (RIA Novosti, Dmitry Panovkin) - Russia may secure German help to promote its interests in the European Union and to join the World Trade Organization, says Sergei Oznobishchev, Director, Institute of Strategic Studies.

"Russian-German trade has a considerable turnover. I think that is enough for [Federal Chancellor Gerhard] Schroeder, an extremely influential leader, to offer Russia support as it seeks to buttress its interests in the EU-in particular, in the context of upcoming Russian membership in the WTO," the prominent expert said in a Novosti interview.

"Russia's President and Germany's Chancellor are to meet again at the Hanover international fair. They will carry on contacts that guide and strengthen Russo-German partnership. There are no major problems to set the two countries apart. More than that, we are not mere partners-exceptional ties are linking us."

The summit agenda will revolve round commercial and other economic issues-in particular, fuel and energy, and a transport corridor to get going. "The summiteers will also discuss a wide range of issues that pertain to Russia joining Greater Europe.

"The two countries' leaders will also discuss prospects to simplify visa arrangements. They will certainly not bypass problems vital to either country-anti-terror efforts, WMD nonproliferation, and conventional arms agreement ratification."

As for Russia's prospects to join the WTO, Oznobishchev described it as "an issue just for the negotiation table". The matter rules out headlong steps, "what with the many practical aspects of ensuring Russian interests in particular economic fields. That is a major theme for negotiations. Heads of state have to get into contact with each other to settle the issue," stressed the expert.

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