Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could join the World Trade Organization by the end of 2011.
"I believe it is possible. We would like it to happen. On the whole, no uncoordinated issues remain," Putin told journalists after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Russia, the only major economy outside the global trade body, has been negotiating WTO membership for 17 years, although the average accession period is only five to seven years.
Merkel said Russia "would be an important member for the WTO."
BERLIN, November 26 (RIA Novosti)
