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Ukraine to finalize WTO bill this week

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KIEV, November 27 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's parliament plans to conclude debates on a bill on the country's entry to the global trade body this week, the parliamentary speaker said Monday.

"There is a possibility of completing the consideration of all draft laws on the WTO," Oleksandr Moroz said. "There are two [bills] to be approved in the first reading, and five in the second. We will finalize these issues Thursday."

Ukraine has been pursuing WTO membership for 13 years. Western-leaning Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has stepped up efforts to join the organization since coming to power in 2005, but recently-appointed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has taken a more cautious approach, and warned against hasty decisions.

Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and finance minister, Mykola Azarov, said in early November the country will join the WTO in late January or early February 2007.

"There is no doubt that all bills necessary for Ukraine's accession to the WTO will be adopted in November," Azarov said. "The government has discussed all related issues, and expects parliament's backing."

Ukraine has yet to sign to bilateral accession protocols with Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan, according to the minister.

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