Yekaterina Mayorova, a top negotiator in talks with the World Trade Organization, said the entry of foreign banks would make "competition absolutely unequal."
The United States has yet to agree to allow Russia to join the WTO. The issue of access to Russia's banking market is one of several sticking points in negotiations.
(AP, ITAR-TASS)
WTO Status Of RFE/RL Broadcast Countries
WTO Members:
Armenia: Joined on 5 February 2003.
Croatia: Joined on 30 November 2000.
Georgia: Joined on 14 June 2000.
Kyrgyzstan: Joined on 20 December 1998.
Macedonia: Joined on 4 April 2003.
Moldova: Joined on 26 July 2001.
Romania: Joined on 1 January 1995.
Countries That Are Not Yet WTO Members:
Afghanistan: Submitted its application in November 2004.
Azerbaijan: Submitted its application in June 1997.
Bosnia-Herezgovina: Submitted its application in May 1999.
Belarus: Submitted its application in September 1993.
Iran: Submitted its application in July 1996.
Iraq: Submitted its application in September 2004.
Kazakhstan: Submitted its application in January 1996.
Russia: Submitted its application in June 1993.
Serbia and Montenegro: Submitted separate applications in December 2004.
Tajikistan: Submitted its application in May 2001.
Ukraine: Submitted its application in November 1993.
Uzbekistan: Submitted its application in December 1994.
For more information, click here.
For an exclusive RFE/RL interview with former WTO head MICHAEL MOORE,click here.