Brussels, 29/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The integration of Russia into the international economic and commercial system is the theme of a conference that will take place this Friday, in Moscow. The event, organised by the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council, the European Commission and Russia, "is a concrete expression of this support" that the EU Heads of State and Government brought, last weekend in Stockholm, to the efforts undertaken by Russia to accede to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), underlined the Swedish Trade Minister Lief Pagrotsky, a few days before his departure for Moscow.
A hundred people, representing the Assembly (Duma) and the Russian government, as well as the State authorities and business circles, have been called to take part in this conference. The aim of the organisers is to improve the knowledge that the political decision-makers and the economic actors of the country have of the WTO and to isolate the advantages, constraints and undertakings linked to the position of member of this institution. The Russian Prime Minister, Michail Kasianov, will make an opening speech before passing on the word to Mr Pagrotsky, who will play the role of mediator in the debates. Among the speakers, are also the European Commissioner responsible for Trade, Pascal Lamy and the Director General of the WTO Mike Moore.