Process of joining WTO should not be endless, says Russia

Moscow, April 5 (RIA Novosti) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said Russia would like to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but the process of joining the group should not be endless.

Russia has been negotiating its entry into the global trade organisation for more than 15 years.

'Our position on joining the WTO is the same; it has not changed. The Russian Federation is ready to join on normal, non-discriminatory conditions. We have done all that is necessary. This process has been drawn out, and this irritates us,' Medvedev told journalists Saturday.

'The key thing is this (process) does not turn into an endless story,' he said after talks in Moscow with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who reaffirmed Chile's support for Russia's membership of WTO.

'Chile has once again confirmed its support of Russia's future membership in the WTO,' a joint statement issued after the talks of the two leaders said.

'Its (Russia's) participation in this organisation (WTO) will promote and strengthen the multilateral system of world trade, the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation,' the statement noted.