RF WTO entry, amendment repeal must be concurrent-view

WASHINGTON, April 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's accession to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) and an abrogation of the notorious Jackson-Vanik
Amendment in the United States must come about at "approximately the same
time", Russian Vice-Premier Sergei Ivanov told Russian journalists during
a meeting with them here on Tuesday.
"The main thing I arrived here for is to discuss matters concerning
Russia's entry into the WTO and the consequences of that for American
businesses. The consequences, obviously, will be positive," Ivanov pointed
out. "It is quite evident that the Jackson-Vanik Amendment (which at one
time put discriminatory limitartions on bilateral trade -- Note by
Itar-Tass correspondent) must be abrogated before we enter the WTO. This
must be done at approximately the same time. Otherwise the Americans would
punish themselves".
Ivanov said, "If this does not happen in summer or early in fall, the
window of opportunity would close". "Elections will begin in many a
country and there will be other things for everyone to be busy with," the
Russian Vice-Premier explained.
He said that in the US Congress, "there are both those who are
objectively interested in an abrogation of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment and
those who do not share such interest".
"This is why," Ivanov believes, "there will be a heated debate (on the
issue). But these are already matters of the intra-American nitty-gritty
of politics. If our arguments are needed, we are prepared to set them out.
However, we may not and will not exert any influence or, still less, put
pressure (in this respect). We and the Americans have no questions about
the process of negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO. The dossier
is closed".