WASHINGTON, February 2 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S. president has confirmed that his country will support Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, the Russian foreign minister said Friday.
George W. Bush "pledged to direct his negotiators in Geneva to help bring about an effective result as soon as possible," Sergei Lavrov told reporters after a meeting in Washington with the U.S. leader.
The minister also said the Bush was optimistic over the development of energy dialogue with Russia, and believes that "prospects for advancing energy dialogue with Russia are good."
Russia's economic development and trade minister said last month he believed Russia would join the WTO by the end of 2007, but that there were no guarantees of this happening
The economics ministry expects to complete multilateral talks on the country's admission to the global trade body by the middle of 2007.
