ECONOMIC ROAD MAP TO BE READY FOR RUSSIA-EU SUMMIT AS WTO TALKS APPROACH FINAL

BRUSSELS, April 23 (RIA Novosti, Alexander Shishlo) - A Road Map on Russia-EU united economic environment will be ready by the nearest Russia-European Union summit, due in Moscow, May 10, said Hermann Gref, Russia's Minister of Economic Development and Trade. He addressed the media in Brussels upon yesterday's negotiations with Peter Mandelson, European Union Commissioner for Trade.

There is still enough time before the summit to finish coordination of issues still on the agenda, Gref reassured Novosti.

Russia expects to finish negotiations on joining the World Trade Organization before December next, that is, prior to the Hong Kong WTO ministerial conference. Negotiators are concentrating on that deadline, added the minister.

As for the Brussels talks, the negotiators debated the most involved of all issues still for settlement in Russia-EU bilateral negotiations on Russia's prospective WTO membership, said Mr. Gref.

As the EU Commissioner said, in his turn, the European Union is eager to see Russia in the WTO as soon as possible. He is sure the talks will finish quite soon-which is in both Parties' interests. The negotiation progress of the following three months will be decisive, as Mr. Mandelson sees it.