The Russian delegation is generally satisfied with the WTO accession negotiations in Hong Kong.

"We fulfilled nearly all tasks," representative of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry Konstantin Bogdanov told Itar-Tass.

He said Russia had signed bilateral agreements on the entry into the WTO with the Philippines, Nicaragua and Paraguay, and a preliminary protocol with Canada. Negotiations with India were finalized, and progress was achieved at consultations with some other states.

Russia declared progress at negotiations with the United States, a key partner. On Friday Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref had a two-hour meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman. "We discussed possible ways of solving the four remaining problems [agriculture, aircraft building, intellectual property and financial services]," Gref said. The delegations could not meet again on Sunday because of the U.S. representatives' engagement in WTO deliberations on a final declaration of the sixth ministerial conference, Bogdanov said.

Negotiations with Switzerland were held on Sunday. Russia hopes to sign bilateral WTO accession protocol with Switzerland on the sideline of the Davos Economic Forum in late January, head of the trade negotiations department at the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry Maxim Medvedkov told Itar-Tass.

Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref and a Swiss delegation agreed to hold another round of negotiations on January 15 and be ready to sign the accord at the Davos Forum in Hong Kong on Sunday, he said.

The Russian delegation also met with Colombian representatives, but did not reach any specific agreements. The final phase of the Russia-Colombia WTO negotiations is not easy.

Russia also has to complete the bilateral negotiations with the United States and Australia.

"Russia hopes to finalize WTO bilateral negotiations in the first months of 2006," Gref said.

Source: Agencies