Kazakhstan intends to make every effort to join the WTO in 2012, RIA
Novosti reports, referring to the Minister for Economic Development
and Trade of Kazakhstan, Zhanara Aitzhanova.
“This is a forecast. I can predict that it will be in 2012, we will do
everything necessary for this," Aitzhanova told reporters in Astana.
The process of accession of Kazakhstan to the WTO began on the 26th of
January 1996. In June 2009 the Heads of Government of the Customs
Union - Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus - decided to notify the WTO on
accession to it as a single customs territory.
All three countries suspended bilateral talks on accession to the
organization at the time of the consultations on forming a united
position of the Customs Union. However, in October 2009 it was
announced that Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will resume negotiations
on accession to the WTO separately, but on agreed positions. Astana
then announced its intention to conclude negotiations on the WTO
before the end of 2010.
