WTO chief sees Russia joining in 2003

Russia may join the World Trade Organisation in the first half of 2003, Mike Moore, the organisation's director-general has said.

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, Mr Moore said that Russia, the last major power outside the organisation, might become a member by spring or early summer of 2003.

"I'll bet you a hundred dollars that Russia will be in when Dr Supachai Panichpakdhi is director-general," Mr. Moore said.

Dr Supachai, a former Thai minister, is due to take over at the head of the WTO in September for 12 months.

Mr Moore was speaking as a Russian delegation was holding talks with trade officials from many current WTO member states.

Trade officials said the talks were going well, although agriculture issues remained a major problem.

Many WTO members insist more should be done to open Russia's largely state-financed farming sector.

Russia applied for WTO membership in 1993, but negotiations have only recently started to progress.

Analysts attribute the progress to Russia's liberal reforms, adopted in the past two years, and President Putin's support for the US war against terrorism.