Group of 20 nations support Russia's bid to complete negotiations this year to join the World Trade Organisation, the conclusions of a G20 farm ministers meeting said on Thursday, Reuters reported. After years of talks, Russia aims to become a member of the global trade watchdog in December, but Russian Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina warned recently that entry could be delayed for years if key issues were not settled by the end of next month. Leaders of the G8 group of most advanced economies called last month for Russia, by far the biggest economy not in the WTO, to join the 153-member body by the end of the year. "Russia's partners in the G20 welcome the considerable progress made by Russia to complete its accession to WTO and reaffirm their commitments to working closely with Russia, with the intention to finalize this process in 2011," the written conclusions of the G20 meeting in Paris said. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier this month that there was a "very high chance" Russia would become a WTO member in 2011 but complained about delays in negotiations. -- SPA
