"We are pleased with the fact that the Paraguayan government has admitted the obvious. It has acknowledged the market status of the Russian economy," said Sergei Lavrov on the first-ever high-level Russian visit to the country on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano said Russia was Paraguay's major partner, especially in meat exports to Russia.
"The cooperation is based on free competition rules," Lezcano said. "Paraguay has come to the conclusion that Russia has a market economy, and is ready to make corresponding statements within international organizations."
"Negotiations on [meat] quotas were held in the context of Russia's accession to the WTO, which has not yet taken place," Lavrov said. "Our colleagues in Paraguay understand all the aspects, and dialogue is continuing."
Russia has been seeking WTO membership since September 2005, but still needs to complete bilateral talks with those WTO members with trade issues with Moscow, as well as to conclude multilateral discussions within the WTO Working Party of 50 nations.
Lezcano also said Russia would open an embassy in Asuncion after finalizing the necessary formalities in early 2008. He said the Paraguayan embassy to Moscow was opened in 1992.
Lavrov and Lezcano signed an agreement on cooperation between the diplomatic academies, a memorandum of mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries' health ministries, and a joint statement.
Later in the day, Lavrov is due to arrive in Senegal, West Africa, the final country on his 10-day tour, which has included Australia, Peru and Uruguay.
Since 2003, trade between Russia and Paraguay has increased 100-fold, reaching $200 million in 2006 thanks to exports of Paraguayan beef, the Russian Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay, Yuri Korchagin, said.
