Negotiations between Russia and the European Union on a new partnership agreement will not be completed until Moscow gains membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Russia's EU envoy said on Monday.
Russia and the EU were expected to hold the next round of talks on the deal in early February. But Russia has been unhappy about delays in talks on its 17-year attempt to gain admittance to the 153-nation global trade body (WTO).
"It would only be logical if we first complete negotiations on membership of the WTO and only then, depending on their results, can we conclude talks on a new basic agreement between Russia and the European Union," said Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's ambassador to the EU.
The previous Russia-EU agreement expired in late 2007, but was automatically extended. Further negotiations were stalled over disagreements with Poland and then Lithuania in 2007-08. The Russian-Georgian war in August 2008 led EU leaders to freeze talks, which were resumed in December that year.
The Russian government is still holding talks with 12 WTO countries on the supplies of meat products to the Russian market. Chief negotiator Maxim Medvedkov said last month that talks could be completed in May-June 2011.
MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti)
