MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia soon hopes to complete talks on its accession to the World Trade Organization with the two remaining countries in the process, a deputy prime minister said Monday.
Russia is yet to sign protocols on the end of bilateral talks with the United States and Australia.
"Russia's accession to the WTO will benefit Russia itself, European countries and other member states of the global trade community," Alexander Zhukov said.
According to Zhukov, Russia has already reached accords with Europe. "We agreed on all issues with Europe, hopefully, on acceptable and mutually advantageous terms," the deputy prime minister said.
Zhukov also said Russia had yet to agree with the United States on issues that were largely beyond the scope of WTO talks.
"I hope we'll soon complete these talks," Zhukov said.
Talks with the U.S. have stumbled, in particular, over access to Russia's banking market and intellectual property rights.
