Moscow to 'accelerate' efforts to ratify Kyoto protocol: Putin

[Barrett808]

President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the European Union's decision to back Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization will lead Moscow to accelerate its efforts to ratify the Kyoto climate change treaty, Interfax reported.

"The fact that the European Union has made concessions in our WTO negotiations cannot but have a positive effect on Moscow's attitude towards ratification of the Kyoto protocol," Putin was quoted as saying.

"We will accelerate our efforts to ratify this protocol," Putin said.

http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040521122655.iun1r20a.html

[Barrett808]

1. EU offers backing for Russian WTO entry, gets Kyoto pledge

The European Union offered crucial support Friday for Moscow's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), easing entry for the largest country still left outside the global trade governing body.

Russia in return pledged to move ahead with ratification of the Kyoto climate change treaty as Brussels offered a major concession by dropping demands for Russia to hike its low domestic energy prices to world levels.

EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and Russian Trade Minister German Gref signed a protocol concluding six years of thorny negotiations on Russian membership of the WTO in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the EU leadership.

The deal crowned a Russia-EU summit, the first since the European Union expanded its membership from 15 nations to 25 on May 1, with former Warsaw Pact countries that still have strong economic links to Russia entering the bloc.

"The fact that the European Union has made concessions in our WTO negotiations cannot but have a positive effect on Moscow's attitude towards ratification of the Kyoto protocol," Putin said.

(more)

http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040521152155.b2d61g2m.html

[nodehopper]

2. well, that's good. everybody wins in that deal

Russian energy prices don't soar and they get on board with this important environmental legislation. Will I ever read news about the US that will make me happy again?

[russian33]

3. yep, in November, you'll read...

...former MA Senator Kerry wins in a land-slide....Dick Cheney drops dead of a heart-attack....

Good news about Russia.

[nodehopper]

4. are you from Russia too?

[russian33]

5. originally...

...been living in US for 13 years

[nodehopper]

6. hey, me too.