KIEV, February 24 (RIA Novosti, Pavel Dulman) - Ukraine could become a member of the World Trade Organization as early as in 2006, the country's foreign minister said Friday.
"As soon as all formalities have been completed within the country, we could say with certainty that Ukraine will become a WTO member," Borys Tarasyuk told a news conference. "I believe it will happen this year."
At the same time, the minister sharply criticized the Ukrainian parliament for attempts to block the adoption of laws that are necessary to ensure the country's accession to the organization.
"The motivation for such actions is quite obvious - the forthcoming elections," the minister said, adding that he hoped the new parliament would adopt all necessary draft laws by the fall this year.
