World Bank says Ukraine could join WTO before end of 2005
KYIV, July 21 2005 – The World Bank says it is possible for Ukraine to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) before the end of the current year. Ukraine should join WTO as soon as possible, World Bank country director for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova Paul Bermingham said at a press conference on Thursday. The director expressed hope that Ukraine may join the organization before the year’s end. He said Ukraine’s membership of the WTO is important for the diversification of Ukrainian exports, improving the country’s investment climate, and in receiving a voting right to set the global trading rules. Bermingham also said that in the near future Ukraine might receive the market economy status from the European Union. The WB country director said the organization would welcome Ukraine’s receiving market economy status. As reported earlier, in June Ukraine gave the EU all the necessary documents concerning the country’s market economy status. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko hopes that before October the parliament will adopt all the necessary bills needed for Ukraine to enter the World Trade Organization, and Ukraine will get a chance to become a WTO member before the year ends.
[Interfax-Ukraine as published by FirsTnews]