Guest
(16 Dec 2011) SHOTLIST 1. Mid of podium being prepared for Russian accession signing ceremony 2. Mid of Anatoly Chubais, CEO of Rusnano and part of the Russian delegation 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Anatoly Chubais, member of the Russian delegation and CEO of Rusnano: “Well, to my understanding it is not just joining the WTO. It’s much more than joining the WTO, because I believe the WTO is a kind of platform which will make it possible in a few steps for Russia to join the OECD, for Russia to sign the new partnership agreement with the European Union, and that’s kind of the Russia back in the civilised world after almost a hundred years of the very complicated Russian history, after the Bolshevik Revolution, after the Democratic Revolution in 1991, Russia is coming back to the civilised world, and they are doing it in the way which is recognised by the world community.“ 4. Cutaway cameraman 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Anatoly Chubais, member of the Russian delegation and CEO of Rusnano: “Well, that’s true that unfortunately in Russia we have quite a lot of bureaucracy. We are one of the world champions in bureaucratic competition, but I do believe that the WTO trade rules is something that will definitely open the way for liberalisation. It will open the way for diminishing the tariff barriers, it will open the way for liberalising the Russian economy, no doubt about it.“ 6. Wide of the conference hall 7. Mid of conference chairman, Olusegun Aganga, announcing Russia’s accession 8. Wide of people clapping 9. Mid of Elvira Nabiullina, Russia’s minister of economic development, walking up to podium 10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Elvira Nabiullina, Russian minister of economic development: “We were preparing for today for a long time, we were conducting system reforms and changing the law, and we have also started the liberalisation of the economy. The six largest economy of the world is becoming a member of the WTO. With Russian accession, the rules of the organisation will be regulated by ninety seven per cent of world trade. The world economy is undergoing a difficult period, during such times there is always a risk of rising protectionism. By joining the WTO we are ready to struggle against such risks.“ 11. Mid of audience clapping 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Pascal Lamy, World Trade Organisation chief: “The accession is also good for the multi lateral system as a whole. With this accession, the WTO will cover ninety seven percent of world trade, and we are rapidly approaching universality in the coverage of global trade.“ 13. Mid of Nabiullina and Lamy signing, then holding up signatures, AUDIO: applause 14. Mid of delegates clapping 15. Mid of Nabiullina and Lamy holding up placard reading: (English) “Russian Federation“, AUDIO: applause STORYLINE Russia became the World Trade Organisation’s newest member on Friday, giving a critical boost to the ailing economy of its biggest trading partner, the European Union. The vote by international trade ministers also provides a measure of victory for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who faces popular discontent after allegations of fraud in the recent parliamentary elections. Russia had been the only member of the Group of 20 leading world economies outside the 153-nation WTO. Once it formally joins - expected to be early next year after ratification from the Russian Duma - Moscow will be subject to the Geneva-based body’s rules for international trade and settling disputes. Russia’s WTO membership is expected to quickly increase European Union exports by some 5.2 (b) billion US dollars a year, EU trade officials say. WRAP Russia joins the World Trade Organisation, signing ceremony
