RUSSIA MAY JOIN WTO IN 1997.

Russia hopes to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1997, Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Oleg Davydov said following an informal meeting with WTO officials in Geneva yesterday. He said the WTO has agreed to accelerate Russia’s application, first made two years ago. The slow progress of Moscow’s application to date reflects Russia’s failure to convince the WTO that it has brought all its trading practices into line with world standards. Davydov said Russia will submit proposals on tariff reform in January and the next official meeting will be held in April. He said he thought one more meeting would be needed after that to agree on a protocol for admission. (Itar-Tass, November 20)

Russian Duma Recommends Moratorium on Death Penalty.