Russia seen as getting better deal in Kyoto-for-WTO talks
The Russia-European Union summit, which was held on Friday [21 May] in Moscow, proved without exaggeration to be
historic. One single document, the protocol on the completion of the negotiations on access to markets within the
framework of Russia's accession to the WTO, was signed there, but it had taken the parties several years to arrive
at this point. And on the point of his departure European Commission Chairman Romano Prodi (his mandate expires this
autumn) had to turn this page. The course of the negotiations showed that Mr Prodi, who has already secured the
successful enlargement of the European Union, is trying to inscribe as many lines as possible in the history of his
leadership of Europe. There were two large-scale goals in the Moscow direction: completing the negotiations on
Russia's membership of the WTO and winning its consent to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. [passage omitted]
By all accounts, the "high contracting parties" wanted very much to avoid things looking from the outside
like an political bargain - an important one but bargain nonetheless. But is was impossible to conceal this. Vladimir
Putin attempted to assure the reporters that the negotiators "did not link the WTO and Kyoto" and that the
completion of the WTO negotiations was "an important result of interaction with the EU" and a "prudent
compromise, which will influence the negotiations with other states". But he acknowledged almost then and there
that the WTO accords "reduce risks in the medium term and untie (Russia's) hands for accession to Kyoto".
[passage omitted]
It would appear, meanwhile, that neither for Europe was the "price" of approval of Russia's membership
of the WTO nor for Russia was the "price" of accession to the Kyoto Protocol in and of itself that great, but
they grew many times over as instruments of exchange. To your Vremya Novostey correspondent's remark to one of the
Russian negotiators that Vladimir Putin responds unequivocally negatively to ultimatums or attempts to bargain on
political issues the official acknowledged: "We are already actively involved in this bargaining." Vladimir
Milov, head of the Institute of Energy Policy, believes that the situation has been resolved for the better: "Of
course, bargaining on so important and serious matters is inappropriate. But this specific exchange is an exception
since both the European Union was making of us unfair 'energy package' demands and Russia had incomprehensibly
dug in its heels over Kyoto. In a situation where confrontation has been intensifying on matters that are not
fundamental for either party, a good solution has been found."
It may thus be affirmed that an exchange has been accomplished to general satisfaction. The Kremlin still holds
"trump cards," what is more: the European Union has already sealed its WTO consent by its signature, Russia
has only promised to "accelerate movement" towards ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. And it could in the
future take advantage of a change of speed of this movement in its own interests. Vladimir Milov calls attention to this
also: "I am not convinced that the books on this matter (the debate over whether the Kyoto Protocol should be
ratified or not ed.) have been closed. The president gave quite a transparent hint, saying that this should be decided
by parliament. This is generally a good argument for showing that there is in Russia democracy and a parliament, which
might not agree with the opinion of the president. Considering the overall negative background in respect to the Kyoto
Protocol, there could, in my view, be a serious continuation of the parliament 'story'." At the same
time, on the other hand, this, in Mr Milov's opinion, has nothing to do with the Kyoto process. "It is
essential to recognize that the consequences for Russia in the form of sanctions for greenhouse-gas emissions could
ensue only if we have a very high rate of economic growth, and if this growth is based on energy-intensive manufacturing
processes and obsolete technology, furthermore. We have to answer for ourselves: a doubling of the GDP at any price? If
not, we will then have to invest in a reduction in emissions, and the Kyoto Protocol could be of considerable assistance
to us thanks to the mechanisms of the attraction of investments that it affords."
Russia's conclusive accession to the Kyoto Protocol through its ratification, though, is a worthy objective,
which is already "on the agenda" of the work of Romano Prodi's future successor. [passage omitted]
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