(ForUm) - The Economy Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Makukha forecasts Ukraine's accession to the WTO not earlier than in the middle of summer 2007. He told at the briefing today.
According to Makukha, Ukraine has already started the process of draft bills verification that are necessary for accession to the WTO. The process of verification has been already begun. All draft bills are already translated into English, given to Geneva and handed out to all participants of negotiation process, Makukha said.
He also informed that in the scope of today's meeting with the ambassador of the USA to Ukraine William Taylor he discussed a question on terms of discussion of the verification results, reports Trend.
We hope that in the second half of January we will be able to hold discussions of results of the verification and other questions of the agenda. Besides, at the same time we will hold meetings with other members of the working group. We hope the verification process will be finished in the middle of February. If everything ok, in a month we will hold the18th meeting of the working group, where we will be able to approve regulations of the working group as regards Ukraine's accession into the WTO. After approval of a report and some bureaucratic procedures, needed for official decision, I hope in the middle of the summer we will become official member of the WTO, Makhuha said.
The Minister underlined that this scenario is optimistic and do not provide for any unexpected delays.
In response to the question on vexed questions, which can appear on Ukraine's way to the WTO, Makhuha pointed out terms of granting state support to agricultural producers after Ukraine's accession into the WTO. The Minister expressed a hope that this and other vexed questions could be settled at the next session of the working group.