BUENOS AIRES, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Prime Minister is expected to sign a bilateral agreement on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization during his three day visit to Argentina, a delegation source said.
Mikhail Fradkov arrived in Buenos Aires late Thursday, making the first-ever visit by a Russian premier to the country in a bid for international recognition of Russia's status as a market economy.
"We are seeking progress on the issue and will raise the issue that a WTO agreement in principle should automatically lead to Argentina's recognition of the Russia's status as a market economy," the source said, adding that this would open up opportunities for Russian firms on the Argentinean market.
He said bilateral trade, which totaled $700 million in 2005, was currently hugely skewed, as Russian exports to Argentina amounted to $72 million while imports stood at $620 million.
Fradkov's agenda will include trade, investment, and cooperation in a wide range of fields, including nuclear energy, space research and IT, the source said.
Russia has now completed accession talks with 55 WTO member countries and signed protocols with most of them. Under WTO regulations, Russia must sign bilateral accession agreements with all members of the 58-nation WTO Working Party set up to negotiate its accession. Negotiations are still ongoing with the United States, Colombia, and Australia.
