17/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Russia appoints a WTO representative. On Monday 17 February, Russia appointed its first representative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It has been a member of the WTO for a year and a half and is involved in several complaints procedures. The appointment of Gennady Ovechko was made official by a decree from President Vladimir Putin published on Monday. According to Russian media, Ovechko has until now been adviser at the Russian embassy in Japan. Russia joined the WTO in August 2012, and thus agreed to lower its customs duties. However, the new competition has been accepted with fear by certain sectors of the Russian economy, which have the reputation of not being very competitive, and some industries have complained of losing their market share. (LC/transl.fl)