By Country / Russia
Putin Says U.S. Holding Up Russia's WTO Bid
January 31, 2006
31 January 2006 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said today the United States was the last obstacle to Russia's joining the World Trade Organization.
Speaking at a Kremlin news conference, Putin said all Russia's partners would support its WTO bid, but said that "only the United States is holding [Russia] back."
He also said Russia intends to join the WTO but only under "acceptable" conditions.
Putin reiterated Moscow's position that foreign banks should not be allowed to open directly owned branches in Russia. He said that would not allow Russia to control flows of capital in and out of the country.
The question of allowing foreign banks to open branches in Russia is one of the most disputed issues in the negotiation process between Russia and the United States on its entry to the WTO.
(Interfax, ITAR-TASS, AP)