Q:
A:
Serbia could join WTO by 2008
Belgrade,
14 April 2005
Serbian Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic has expressed conviction that Serbia, with serious effort and good organisation, can become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by 2008.
Ambassador Wilhelm Meier, left, and Minister Milan Parivodic
Author:
Fonet
Parivodic told a press conference organised by the ministry and Geneva-based IDEAS Centre that WTO membership is a pre-requisite for joining the European Union.
“By adjusting our foreign trade regime with WTO rules, we will harmonise our regulations in that area with EU law,” said Parivodic.
He recalled that Serbia set up a working group at the WTO on February 15 and then submitted the Memorandum on Serbia’s foreign trade regime, which is the first step towards admission to the WTO.
The next step, according to Parivodic, is the working group’s first meeting in September. He also recalled that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia applied for WTO membership in 2001 but that the process has been hindered by difficulties in harmonising Serbia’s and Montenegro’s economic systems.
Swiss Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro Wilhelm Meier said that Switzerland’s assistance to Serbia includes the promotion of Serbian exports, improvement of trade efficiency, and support to Serbia’s accession to the WTO.
According to Meier, fast integration into the global trade system is of crucial significance for Serbia. He said that the country will have to meet demands of member-countries relating to goods, services, and intellectual property and that its legal system will be under constant monitoring.
“By adjusting our foreign trade regime with WTO rules, we will harmonise our regulations in that area with EU law,” said Parivodic.
He recalled that Serbia set up a working group at the WTO on February 15 and then submitted the Memorandum on Serbia’s foreign trade regime, which is the first step towards admission to the WTO.
The next step, according to Parivodic, is the working group’s first meeting in September. He also recalled that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia applied for WTO membership in 2001 but that the process has been hindered by difficulties in harmonising Serbia’s and Montenegro’s economic systems.
Swiss Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro Wilhelm Meier said that Switzerland’s assistance to Serbia includes the promotion of Serbian exports, improvement of trade efficiency, and support to Serbia’s accession to the WTO.
According to Meier, fast integration into the global trade system is of crucial significance for Serbia. He said that the country will have to meet demands of member-countries relating to goods, services, and intellectual property and that its legal system will be under constant monitoring.
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