Kazakhstan planning to enter WTO after Russia

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev thinks that Kazakhstan will enter the WTO (World Trade Organization) by the end of next year, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. “We have also almost completed negotiations with all the countries (the WTO members), there is one year left. I think that Kazakhstan will also be in the WTO by the end of 2012,” Nazarbayev said in Moscow. “For us, for Kazakhstan, it is very important that Russia enters first, as all our transport corridors to Europe go via Russia,” the President said. “If Russia does not enter, we will be in Kyrgyzstan's position. Kyrgyzstan is surrounded by non-WTO countries,” Nazarbayev explained. “There is an agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia that as soon as Russia enters the WTO it will support our entry in all aspects. I consider it normal that Kazkahstan enters the WTO after Russia,” he continued. “And this, by the way, will in no way effect our Customs Union,” Kazakhstan President stressed.