Brussels, 18/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - Speaking at conference on Wednesday 17 October organised by the EU-Russian Centre on 'EU, Russia, friends or rivals?', EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson did not mince his words about Russia. He regretted the lack of progress in Russia's World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession process: 'We have arrived at a point where only political will in Moscow can close the remaining distance'. 'I hope Russia will capitalise on the time remaining to this administration to resolve the final issues rather than pushing them onto the desk of its successor,' said the commissioner, hinting at the Russian presidential election in December this year. Mandelson is raising the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to encourage him to help resolve the remaining points of bilateral trade disagreement ahead of the EU-Russia summit in Mafra, Portugal, on 26 October. Russia's membership of the WTO partly hangs on bilateral talks between Brussels and Moscow, where there are still disagreements over differentiated export tariffs for Russian wood and discriminatory Russian rail tariffs (see EUROPE 9511). The talks are also tense due to the Russian embargo of Polish meat. 'Regardless of who is right or wrong, issues like these should not be allowed to dominate our relationship,' said Mandelson, continuing: 'WTO membership is not a cure-all for Russia's international economic challenges, but it is an essential springboard to closer economic integration with the EU and the global economy'. The trade commissioner suggested that high-level economic strategic dialogue be launched under the future EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, to study economic priorities in trade, investment and energy. (E.H.)