Below is a summary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) membership status of the countries to which RFE/RL broadcasts, as of May 2005.
WTO Members:
Armenia: Joined on 5 February 2003.
Croatia: Joined on 30 November 2000.
Georgia: Joined on 14 June 2000.
Kyrgyzstan: Joined on 20 December 1998.
Macedonia: Joined on 4 April 2003.
Moldova: Joined on 26 July 2001.
Romania: Joined on 1 January 1995.
Countries That Are Not Yet WTO Members:
Afghanistan: Submitted its application in November 2004, and a joint working party with Iraq was established in December 2004, but the working party has not yet held its first meeting.
Azerbaijan: Submitted its application in June 1997 and established a working party in July 1997. The working party has held two meetings. Bilateral negotiations have not yet begun.
Belarus: Submitted its application in September 1993 and formed a working party in October 1993. The seventh meeting of the working party was held in May. The WTO has urged Belarus to accelerate its application process. Bilateral negotiations are ongoing.
Iran: Submitted its application in July 1996 and a working party was established in May 2005. Bilateral negotiations have not yet begun.
Iraq: Submitted its application in September 2004, and a joint working party with Afghanistan was formed in December 2004. The working party has not met yet.
Kazakhstan: Submitted its application in January 1996, and a working party was established in February 1996. Bilateral negotiations began in October 1997. The working party's seventh meeting was held in November 2004. In June 2005, the chairman of the working party lauded Kazakhstan's "key domestic reforms" and the enthusiasm of its negotiating team, saying that considerable progress had been made.
Russia: Submitted its application in June 1993 and a working party was established the same month. The 27th meeting of the working party was held in April 2005. Bilateral negotiations are under way. Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said in June 2005 that Russia is working to complete its application by the end of this year. Bilateral negotiations have been completed with 29 countries (the EU counts as one country), representing half of Russia's working party.
Tajikistan: Submitted its application in May 2001 and a working party was established in July 2001. The working party held its first meeting in March 2004. Bilateral negotiations began in February 2004.
Ukraine: Submitted its application in November 1993 and a working party was established in December 1993. The working party met most recently in March 2005. Bilateral negotiations are under way.
Uzbekistan: Submitted its application in December 1994 and a working party was established the same month. The working party held its second meeting in June 2004. Bilateral negotiations have not yet begun.
(Compiled by RFE/RL based on information provided by the World Trade Organization, http://www.wto.org.)
Armenia: Joined on 5 February 2003.
Croatia: Joined on 30 November 2000.
Georgia: Joined on 14 June 2000.
Kyrgyzstan: Joined on 20 December 1998.
Macedonia: Joined on 4 April 2003.
Moldova: Joined on 26 July 2001.
Romania: Joined on 1 January 1995.
Countries That Are Not Yet WTO Members:
Afghanistan: Submitted its application in November 2004, and a joint working party with Iraq was established in December 2004, but the working party has not yet held its first meeting.
Azerbaijan: Submitted its application in June 1997 and established a working party in July 1997. The working party has held two meetings. Bilateral negotiations have not yet begun.
Belarus: Submitted its application in September 1993 and formed a working party in October 1993. The seventh meeting of the working party was held in May. The WTO has urged Belarus to accelerate its application process. Bilateral negotiations are ongoing.
Iran: Submitted its application in July 1996 and a working party was established in May 2005. Bilateral negotiations have not yet begun.
Iraq: Submitted its application in September 2004, and a joint working party with Afghanistan was formed in December 2004. The working party has not met yet.
Kazakhstan: Submitted its application in January 1996, and a working party was established in February 1996. Bilateral negotiations began in October 1997. The working party's seventh meeting was held in November 2004. In June 2005, the chairman of the working party lauded Kazakhstan's "key domestic reforms" and the enthusiasm of its negotiating team, saying that considerable progress had been made.
Russia: Submitted its application in June 1993 and a working party was established the same month. The 27th meeting of the working party was held in April 2005. Bilateral negotiations are under way. Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said in June 2005 that Russia is working to complete its application by the end of this year. Bilateral negotiations have been completed with 29 countries (the EU counts as one country), representing half of Russia's working party.
Tajikistan: Submitted its application in May 2001 and a working party was established in July 2001. The working party held its first meeting in March 2004. Bilateral negotiations began in February 2004.
Ukraine: Submitted its application in November 1993 and a working party was established in December 1993. The working party met most recently in March 2005. Bilateral negotiations are under way.
Uzbekistan: Submitted its application in December 1994 and a working party was established the same month. The working party held its second meeting in June 2004. Bilateral negotiations have not yet begun.
(Compiled by RFE/RL based on information provided by the World Trade Organization, http://www.wto.org.)