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A drastic rise in prices on energy resources in Russia to the world level will seriously disrupt economic stability inside the country, President Vladimir Putin announced at a meeting with representatives of business circles of Russia and Germany

October 9, 2003

By trying to make Russia increase prices on energy resources as one of the conditions for joining the WTO, the European Union is asking the impossible. Of course, sooner or later, and the sooner the better, internal prices will match world prices. However, this process should take place in stages.

Russia is prepared to hold talks on this issue, but not within the framework of joining the WTO, rather within the energy bloc of the EU. Vladimir Putin called the harsh position of the European Union unjustified and dishonest. The problem of the correlation of internal prices on energy resources with international prices has nothing to do with Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organisation, the President stressed.

October 9, 2003