Russia rules out quitting WTO

Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Economic Cooperation Department Dmitry Birichevsky has said that Russia is not going to withdraw from the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

According to Birichevsky, now "unfriendly countries" are banding together and trying to end Russia's membership in the WTO, so the Kremlin's decision to quit the organisation would be seen as a sign of the success of their (unfriendly countries’) efforts and a signal to tighten pressure on Russia, Gazeta.Ru reports.

"We believe that there are reasons to remain in the organisation as a full member so that to maintain stable ties with developing states that are willing to continue to cooperate on an equal footing and with mutual consideration for each other's interests,” the diplomat said.

He also called the organisation "an alternative-free global platform" for building relations with countries that have not joined the anti-Russian sanctions.

Furthermore, Birichevsky said that the Eurasian Economic Union's sole customs rule is based on WTO standards.

Russia joined the WTO on August 22, 2012. The organisation aims to liberalise international trade by rejecting protectionism and reducing trade tariffs.