Russia to discuss farming subsidies with WTO states in Geneva

Russia will start talks in Geneva on Monday with World Trade Organization members on agricultural subsidies, the last major multilateral issue standing in the way of the country's WTO membership.

Russia hopes to join the WTO by the end of this year, but will have to overcome objections from WTO member Georgia, which froze bilateral talks in late April.

Maxim Medvedkov, Russia's chief negotiator, said: "Agricultural talks will be held with the participation of Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev." The current talks round will continue until Friday.

Gordeyev will meet with representatives of several countries, including the Cairns Group, a bloc of 19 agricultural exporters.

Russia is insisting on $9 billion-per-year state agriculture subsidies in accordance with the organization's rules. The figure is around three times the government's current subsidy level.

Georgia announced in April that it would not continue talks on Russia's WTO bid until Moscow revokes its decision to support Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.