|
Today 18 May 2012 |
|
President Roza Otunbayeva met with the Deputy UN Secretary-General on Gender Equality, Michelle Bachelet
Bishkek, Zpresskg.com –President of Kyrgyzstan Roza Otunbayeva has met the Deputy UN Secretary-General, Executive Director of the structure of "UN Women" Michelle Bachelet. Otunbayeva and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet discussed the role of women in the promotion of advanced technologies and democratic principles, the press service… Read more |
|
OSCE Centre supports training of domestic election observers in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Zpresskg.com - A two-day course for long-term domestic election observers started today in Bishkek. The courses are organized jointly by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s Central Election Commission (CEC) and the non-governmental organization Taza Shailoo (Fair Elections), donors.kg reports. Some 20 long-term observers from Kyrgyzstan… Read more |
|
Top News
11.10.11 09:00
Omurbek Babanov: Protecting the interests of investors is one of the main tasks of the Kyrgyz government
10.10.11 16:24
Pakistan seeks road connectivity to Central Asia
10.10.11 15:21
In Kyrgyzstan, imports of low-alcohol beverage suspended
10.10.11 09:40
Kyrgyz Police Kill Bus Hijacker
|
17.12.10 13:31
Ch. Orozobekova: The EU-Russia relationship: accord toward WTO
By Cholpon Orozobekova, specially for Zpress.kg, December 17, 2010, Geneva After Obama-Medvedev meeting in June 2010 Russia seemed to a big step closer to its desired membership in the World Trade Organization. But still Russia has to handle all remaining stumble stones before the state can become member of the trade club. The joint statement made by Medvedev and his American counterpart in the meeting in June 2010 reads that “the United States commits itself to offering the Russian Federation its full support and best advice in the WTO accession process. The Russian Federation, meanwhile, commits to a government-wide effort to accelerate the adoption of measures that bring the country into conformity with WTO norms, in keeping with customary procedures for accession to the WTO.” The statement also reads that “our governments will therefore both undertake the most vigorous possible efforts in the coming months – bilaterally and with other Members of the WTO- to build and sustain the momentum towards completing the remaining steps in this process”. However, while Russia has got firm support from the USA on its membership bid, the country still has unsolved issues with the European Union. For example, the EU Commission wasn’t happy with Russia’s boost on export tariffs on round timber, a measure which is severely hurting both Finnish and Swedish timber processing industry, and has indicated that this issue needs to be resolved before Russia gets membership. Russia intended to boost export tariffs on timber up to 50 EUR per cubic meter in a bid to stimulate domestic timber processing. However, after major criticism from Finland and Sweden, Russia agreed to postpone the move until January 2011. Now, the tariff plans are being abandoned and timber trade will after Russia’s inclusion in the WTO proceed without tariffs at all. The timber export tariff today amounts to 15 EUR per cubic meter. At the summit at Brussels held on 7the December 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met EU leaders, including the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Russia was ready to compromise in order to get support for a quick accession to the WTO. So Kremlin agreed to drop its plans to boost export tariffs on round timber. That pleased Finland and Sweden, as the EU approved a speedy accession of Russia in the WTO. The softer stance on the timber issue is well perceived both in Brussels and in Helsinki. Finland’s Foreign Trade Minister, Paavo Väyrynen, said to journalists that he is satisfied with the deal, which will enable the two countries to continue their extensive timber trade. The signed memorandum removed the major obstacle for Russia’ WTO membership. So finally, Russia has the EU approval for world trade body. As said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, WTO accession will strengthen trade and investment rules in Russia itself and will therefore be beneficial to Russian businesses and its citizens and also for trade and investment with the European Union. The EU's trade deficit in relation to Russia was cut by 32 per cent last year to stand at 49.7 million euros, owing to the fall in fuel prices. Russia, which is Europe's third most important trading partner after China and the United States, represents 6% of the EU's exports and 10% of its imports. Russian supplies of oil and gas make up a large percentage of Russia’s exports to Europe. Russia is the world’s biggest economy not already a member of the WTO. Moscow hopes the accord with the EU will facilitate Russia’s admission in the international body as soon as next year. But to join the WTO every candidate country should reach the approval of every member states. Many experts warn that Georgia never will support Russia’s accession to the WTO. For the Kremlin is going to be more difficult deal with Saakashvili than the EU states. For Kyrgyzstan it is better if Russia and Kazakhstan could join WTO as soon as possible. Russia applied to WTO in 1993, Kazakhstan in 1996, Belarus applied in 1993, and no one succeeded. Cholpon Orozobekova is a Kyrgyz journalist based in Geneva. She has worked at BBC radio, RFE/RL, IWPR, and as editor in chief of independent newspaper "De Facto."
Updated: 17.12.10 13:36
|
Sections
Subscription
|