9 May: Victory Day in Russia

Yesterday the Centro Ruso de Ciencia y Cultura in Madrid opened a photo exhibition, dedicated to the 68^th anniversary of the Victory Day in Russia, which will take place until 14 May. Victory Day marks Germany’s surrender to the Soviet Union in 1945. It became the end of the Great Patriotic War for the USSR, which lost about 25 million citizens in the four years of fighting.

Many people attend a local military parade and watch the fireworks at night on Victory Day. The biggest parade is in Moscow’s Red Square, showcasing Russia’s military forces. Most veterans wear their medals as they head to the parade or an event organized by a local veteran organization.

Another tradition is to give flowers, usually red carnations, to veterans in the street and to lay wreaths at the war memorial sites. Neighborhood schools may host a program prepared by the students, featuring wartime songs and poetry.

At home, families gather around a festive table to honor surviving witnesses of World War II and remember those who passed away. They may also watch a favorite Soviet film based on the events of World War II, which is also known as the Great Patriotic War.

Fuente: Russia Today

More information: Itar-Tass, Fine weather adds Victory Day sparkle to Moscow’s Red Square Parade | euronews, world news

8 March: International Women's day

In 1913 Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February (by Julian calendar then used in Russia). In 1917 demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Saint Petersburg on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar) initiated the February Revolution.

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Vladimir Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared a non-working day in the USSR “in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace.”

March 8th is an official public holiday. This beautiful spring holiday is most often celebrated in the family circle with a festive meal and champagne. Another popular choice to celebrate March 8th is by visiting friends. Men and women give flowers, postcards with poetry, chocolate, and other pleasant gifts to their mothers, wives, grandmothers, sisters and daughters.

Since the International Women's Day is a non-working day in Russia, office workers celebrate it just the day before the holiday. In companies and organizations, all women receive flowers and small memorable gifts from their male co-workers and, sometimes, from employers themselves. During the lunch break, it is common to have a small office party with cake and a glass of champagne.

The website masterrussian.com gives some tips about what to give as a gift on March 8th.

Both men and women make presents to women they are close to. The gifts that Russians give on March 8th depend on many factors. A few things to consider are how closely you are related to a woman (whether she's your grandmother, mother, wife, or a girlfriend) and what kind of a gift you can afford financially.

Flowers are the most popular gift choice on March 8th. Yellow mimosas and roses are especially popular. Candy and chocolate are the next popular choice, followed by perfume and cosmetics. Some people like to give money or gift cards, so that women could pick the best present for themselves. The list goes on and other gift choices include jewelry, household appliances, kitchen utensils, cut glass and China, clothes, footwear, books, DVDs, and even cell phones and cameras. Tastes differ but the rule of thumb is to give something that will please the woman.

It’s not required to buy an expensive gift to show that you care about a person. Many women will be pleased to receive a postcard with a poem and a few words of congratulations. Even if you are away from your wife, mother, grandmother or sister, you can always send her a postcard or write an email. Here are some Russian poems that you can use on the occasion of March 8th. 

- 1 -
Желаю счастья и любви.
Они дороже всех подарков.
И пусть все сбудутся мечты
В прекрасный день - 8 Марта!

- 2 -
Я тебя поздравляю, с праздником светлой Весны!
Радости, счастья желаю, сладкие видеть сны!
Пусть все невзгоды, ненастья, обходят тебя стороной!
Ведь это ж большое счастье, что встретились мы с тобой!

- 3 -
Пусть в этот день весенними лучами
Вам улыбнутся люди и цветы,
И пусть всегда идут по жизни с Вами
Любовь, здоровье, счастье и мечты!

- 4 -
С душистой веточкой сирени
Весна приходит в каждый дом,
От всей души Вас поздравляем
С Международным Женским днём!

 Source: Masterinrussian.com

Russia — Insights from a changing country

The European Union Institute for Security Studies has published a new report about Russia.

The mass protests in Moscow and other Russian cities after the parliamentary elections on 4 December 2011 shattered long-standing assumptions about the Russian political system and the apathy of Russian society. They raise new questions about the evolution of Russian society and state-society relations. These are extremely serious issues not only for the protesters and external observers, but also for a Russian leadership whose legitimacy is at risk and who, in one way or another, will have to react to this vocal expression of discontent and demand for change.

This EUISS Report features contributions from a group of Russian authors with outstanding expertise on important Russian domestic and foreign policy issues. They all contributed analytical papers to the Institute’s ‘Russia Insights’ series, which were published online during the weeks before the parliamentary and presidential elections. Therefore, some of the papers where written before and some after the public protests started. Together, they provide valuable insights into Russian politics and society and into the country’s economic system as well as into Russia’s foreign policy posture. The result is a very complex picture combining elements of dynamism, stasis and stagnation.

Over the past ten years the Russian political system has been systematically manipulated and tailored to the needs of a small ruling elite whose main strategic goal is the preservation of their political power and access to economic resources. The proverbial ‘power vertical’, completed during Vladimir Putin’s second presidential term, works at the national as well as the regional level.

As Aleksander Kynev demonstrates in his analyses, ‘the party and electoral system today reflects the ruling elite’s efforts to centralise and control’. Electoral and party legislation have become increasingly supportive of United Russia, the so-called ‘party of power’, and increasingly restrictive and discriminating vis-à-vis other parties. This development has severe consequences for the political system and state-society relations: on the one hand political parties have been unable to evolve into stable political entities with a clear profile and substance. As a result the State Duma has degenerated into a rubber stamp forum for the political leadership. The Kremlin on the other hand, has lost all connection with the population (and vice versa). The Russian people are unable to use elections as a means to communicate their wishes to the state, while the state is not attuned to changing societal moods, which explains why it was taken by surprise by the protests after the Duma elections.

Natalia Zubarevich confirms this assessment of the dysfunctionality of the power vertical for the relationship between the centre and the regions. She diagnoses the approaching end of the ‘informal social contract’ between the political leadership and Russian society, whereby Moscow guaranteed low-level economic stability through financial transfers and subsidies to the majority of economically underdeveloped regions. In the light of the economic crisis and growing unemployment, the centre will find it increasingly difficult to face the challenges inherent in Russia’s unreformed federal structures, which are geared to control and co-opt regional elites but do not contribute to the improvement of the quality of governance, regional development and modernisation.

It is in the field of energy that Russian political and economic interests are concentrated. Mikhail Krutikhin delivers a pointed analysis of how state-dominated companies, dysfunctional governance, poor management practices and the rent-seeking behaviour of the elite undermine attempts to reform the outdated Russian energy sector. Modernisation, which in the long run is the only viable strategy to keep this sector competitive at the global level, clashes with the short-term interests of the actors currently in control of the energy sector. This group of veto players, labelled a ‘collective Putin’ by Krutikhin, constantly interferes with political processes in order not to be forced to cede political and economic control.

The authors of this report agree that President Medvedev’s attempts to promote the idea of modernisation in the Russian discourse have done little, if anything, to change the flaws of the political and economic system and to better connect state and society. On the contrary, more often than not they consider Medvedev as ‘part of the problem rather than the solution’ (Krutikhin).

On the other hand, the modernisation debate has encouraged the expression of discontent, first among the broader political and intellectual elite, and, after the Duma elections in December, among Russian society at large. Russians have never developed much trust in their political system. Until recently, however, this distrust was focused on political institutions, while leading political figures, and above all Prime Minister Putin, enjoyed high public support. This has been changing in the past year. The crisis of legitimacy of the political system has turned into a legitimacy crisis that directly affects its leader.

This leads to the question of who is actually demonstrating. Simon Saradzhyan and Nabi Abdullaev claim that today more than 80 percent of the Russian urban population consider themselves to belong to the middle class, which they identify as the main source of public protest. Interestingly, Lilia Ovcharova’s economic analysis of the development and situation of the middle class is much less optimistic. According to her this social stratum has not grown to encompass more than 20 percent of Russian society despite the economic boom of the 2000s, and has been most severely affected by the economic crisis. This contradiction points to a double discrepancy: the majority of people describing themselves as middle class are apparently denied access to economic resources, while at the same time the middle class as a whole is denied appropriate political representation.

Foreign policy issues do not usually play a prominent role in Russian elections. However, back in October Vladimir Putin announced the ‘Eurasian Union’ as a new integration initiative for Russia’s neighbourhood. This idea, which should be seen in the context of Russia’s aspiration to regional great power and global player status, is clearly part of Putin’s election programme. Andrei Zagorski analyses the development of Moscow’s more active integration initiatives in recent years and predicts that, although their success is questionable, they will feature prominently in Putin’s conservative foreign policy agenda, if necessary in competition with the EU. Saradzhyan and Abdullaev suspect that while an intentional reverse of the reset in US-Russian relations is unlikely, the atmosphere may become more tense, particularly if President Obama is voted out of office at the end of the year.

None of the authors voice any doubts as to Vladimir Putin’s eventual return to the Kremlin. The big question for the coming months and years is, therefore, whether the new/old political leadership will be able to respond to the changing societal realities and restore some kind of social contract and consensus to bolster its legitimacy. Putin and his entourage have two options. One is to rely on conservative and extremist forces and seek to broaden their traditional support base among conservative layers of society. The other one is to respond to the demands for more democracy and political liberalisation and modernisation and, by doing so, open the political and economic system to the emerging middle class. In a series of articles on the national question, social policy and democracy, published in several big newspapers in January and February 2012, Putin presents a mix of ideas borrowing from both sides of the political spectrum. This makes it difficult to predict which way he will go. Whether or not the elections will be free, fair and clean, however, will already be an important indicator of Russia’s future development.

Source: www.iss.europa.eu

Protocolo y cultura de los negocios en Rusia. Cómo hacer negocios de forma correcta en Rusia. Ética en los Negocios.

Una visión general del mundo de los negocios en Rusia.
Los rusos son muy tenaces para hacer negocios y suelen tener unas agendas muy apretadas de reuniones. Aunque desde la "rotura" comunista del país muchos negocios se han privatizado, aún quedan bastantes "costumbres" de las que se tenían en las empresas estatales. Para hacer negocios en Rusia hay que tener mucha paciencia y mucho saber buen hacer (lo que se llama "tener mano izquierda"), pues puede encontrarse con algunos comportamientos bastante poco éticos. Aún se puede encontrar algo de corrupción en el mundo de los negocios en Rusia, pero no es una práctica generalizada.

Las reuniones deben ser confirmadas antes de su celebración y si es por escrito mucho mejor; se da con relativa frecuencia las anulaciones de algunas reuniones de forma imprevista y sin explicaciones. La puntualidad es importante en Rusia. Debe tratar de ser lo más puntual posible pues ellos lo consideran bastante importante el tema de la puntualidad.

Después de las presentaciones previas a una reunión se debe proceder al intercambio de las tarjetas de visita. Es un detalle tener por una de sus caras las tarjetas en el idioma local. Se suele indicar el nombre completo, la posición en la empresa y la titulación profesional.

Dada la dificultad del idioma lo mejor que puede hacer es contratar los servicios de un intérprete que le pueden ayudar también en la fase de la traducción e interpretación de los términos de los contratos. El intérprete no se debe sentar entre ellos sino al lado izquierdo de usted o un poco por detrás de ambos (de usted y el anfitrión).

Los trabajadores rusos, tanto empleados como ejecutivos son bastante trabajadores, disciplinados y con gran capacidad de aprendizaje. Siempre suelen estar dispuestos a aprender cosas nuevas.
En cuanto empiezan las presentaciones y conversaciones no vaya "directo al grano" sino que antes charle animadamente sobre aspectos generales sobre temas de poca relevancia o generalistas.
No es común ver en Rusia a mujeres al frente de puestos directivos en las empresas tanto estatales como privadas. Por lo tanto no debe sorprenderle si se sienten extrañados porque usted sea una mujer y tenga un puesto de importancia en la empresa e incluso sea la propietaria de la misma.

Los rusos son muy hospitalarios y muy buenos anfitriones, tanto en el plano personal como en el profesional. No le debe extrañar que estén pendientes en todo momento de usted y que le conviden a cenas y otros eventos.

En el caso del vestuario deberá mantener una línea clásica, que le de un aspecto de seriedad y discreción, manteniendo un aspecto sobrio en sus reuniones de negocios. No obstante las cosas, al igual que en otros muchos países, están cambiando poco a poco (muy poco a poco).
El vestuario está muy condicionado a las temperaturas del país que desde Septiembre hasta Abril pueden ser muy bajas. Sobre todo el invierno es muy duro. Ropa de mucho abrigo y calzado especial para evitar el frío y los resbalones. En verano la temperatura no suele ser muy alta y rara vez se alcanzan los 20º centígrados. Son bastante clásicos en el vestir y amantes de las mejores marcas de moda. En ese sentido está muy occidentalizados. Sus gustos muchas veces no pueden verse satisfechos por sus bajos sueldos.
Los hombres de traje de chaqueta y corbata. Las mujeres de falda y blusa o un conjunto de chaqueta de corte clásico. No es demasiado correcto vestir escotes marcados, espaldas descubiertas y modelos similares para las reuniones de trabajo.

Hay comportamientos que debe evitar como hablar mal de su país, sobre sus políticos o sobre sus costumbres; hacer el signo de OK con los dedos como se hace en otros países es un signo mal visto; saltarse una fila o un turno, es de mala educación, las colas suelen ser habituales en determinados lugares con demasiada frecuencia y por ello deben ser respetadas.

Como buenos anfitriones que son es fácil que le inviten a su casa, pues son muy dados a ello. No se olvide llevar un obsequio para los anfitriones y a sus hijos pequeños, si los tienen. Salvo por razones obvias (salud, religión, etc.) no rechace una invitación a beber, costumbre a la que son muy aficionados. Tampoco es muy correcto rechazar la invitación a comer un plato y a repetir del mismo. Utilice el truco de no terminar del todo la comida, para evitar las repeticiones.

Los rusos son bastante educados, en general, por lo que no se debe tirar nada el suelo, escupir o cualquier otro acto incívico. Una costumbre que empieza a cambiar es la de fumar en cualquier lado sin pedir permiso. No debe extrañarse por ello, si fuman sin pedir permiso a las demás personas.

En la correspondencia comercial ( y personal) se escriben los sobres de la siguiente manera: primero se pone el país, luego la ciudad, luego la dirección de la calle y por último el nombre del destinatario.

Aunque el Estado como elemento intervencionista en los negocios es cada vez menos importante, la cultura de negocios aun contempla de forma muy importante las jerarquías y las cadenas de mando. Aunque a la mayor parte de las reuniones no acudan las jerarquías más altas de la empresa éstas son las que toman las decisiones finales. No obstante, es importante transmitir bien nuestras ideas para que ellos las transmitan bien a sus superiores.

Al finalizar deben dejar todo bien concretado y firmado para evitar futuros problemas en sus relaciones comerciales.

fuente: www.protocolo.org

Russia’s WTO membership

On 16 December 2011, Russia cleared the final hurdle to become a WTO member. WTO Ministers adopted Russia’s WTO terms of entry at the 8th Ministerial Conference in Geneva. Russia will have to ratify the deal within the next 220 days and would become a fully-fledged WTO member 30 days after it notifies the ratification to the WTO.

As part of the accession accord, Russia has agreed to undertake a series of important commitments to further open its trade regime and accelerate its integration in the world economy. The deal offers a transparent and predictable environment for trade and foreign investment.
From the date of accession, the Russian Federation has committed to fully apply all WTO provisions, with recourse to very few transitional periods (see details below). The Russian Federation’s commitments will include the following:

Market access for goods and services

As part of the accession, Russia concluded 30 bilateral agreements on market access for services and 57 on market access for goods.

Market access for goods — tariff and quota commitments

On average, the final legally binding tariff ceiling for the Russian Federation will be 7.8% compared with a 2011¹ average of 10% for all products²:

• The average tariff ceiling for agriculture products will be 10.8%, lower than the current average  of 13.2%
• The ceiling average for manufactured goods will be 7.3% vs. the 9.5% average today on manufactured imports.

Russia has agreed to lower its tariffs on a wide range of products. Average duties after full implementation of tariff reductions will be:  

• 14.9% for dairy products (current applied tariff 19.8%)
• 10.0% for cereals (current applied tariff 15.1%)
• 7.1% for oilseeds, fats and oils (current applied tariff 9.0%)
• 5.2% for chemicals (current applied tariff 6.5%)
• 12.0% for automobiles (current applied tariff 15.5%)
• 6.2% for electrical machinery (current applied tariff 8.4%)
• 8.0% for wood and paper (current applied tariff 13.4%)

Final tariffs will be bound at zero for cotton and information technology (ITA) products (current applied tariff on ITA products is 5.4%).
The final bound rate will be implemented on the date of accession for more than one third of national tariff lines with another quarter of the tariff cuts to be put in place three years later. The longest implementation period is 8 years for pork, followed by 7 years for motor cars, helicopters and civil aircraft.
Tariff rate quotas (TRQs) would be applied to beef, pork, poultry and some whey products. Imports entering the market within the quota will face lower tariffs while higher duties will be applied to products imported outside the quota.
The in-quota and out of quota rates are listed below with the out of quota rates in parentheses:

• For beef 15% (and 55%)
• For pork zero (and 65%). The TRQ for pork will be replaced by a flat top rate of 25% as of 1 January 2020.
• 25% (and 80%) for some selected poultry products
• 10% (and 15%) for some whey products
• Some of these quotas are also subject to member-specific allocations

Market access for services

The Russian Federation has made specific commitments on 11 services sectors and on 116 sub-sectors.
On telecommunications, the foreign equity limitation (49%) would be eliminated four years after accession. The Russian Federation also agreed to apply the terms of the WTO’s Basic Telecommunications Agreement.
Foreign insurance companies would be allowed to establish branches nine years after Russia accedes.
Foreign banks would be allowed to establish subsidiaries. There would be no cap on foreign equity in individual banking institutions, but the overall foreign capital participation in the banking system of the Russian Federation would be limited to 50% (not including foreign capital invested in potentially privatized banks).
On transport services, the Russian Federation made commitments in maritime and road transport services, including the actual transportation of freight and passengers.
On distribution services, Russia would allow 100% foreign-owned companies to engage in wholesale, retail and franchise sectors upon accession to the WTO.

Export duties

Export duties would be fixed for over 700 tariff lines, including certain products in the sectors of fish and crustaceans, mineral fuels and oils, raw hides and skins, wood, pulp and paper and base metals.

General commitments on market access

Quantitative restrictions on imports, such as quotas, bans, permits, prior authorization requirements, licensing requirements or other requirements or restrictions that could not be justified under the WTO provisions would be eliminated and not (re) introduced.
Railway transportation charges on goods in transit would, by 1 July 2013, be applied in a manner which conforms with the WTO provisions. The Russian Federation would apply the same rail transportation charges to imported products as they do to similar products moving between domestic locations. Regulated railway tariffs for transit of goods would be published before their entry into force.
From the date of accession, importers of alcohol, pharmaceuticals and some products with encryption technology would not need import licences.
Upon accession, the Russian Federation would apply the Custom Union Generalised System of Preferences scheme (CU GSP) for developing and least-developed countries. 152 developing countries and least-developed countries benefit from the CU GSP.
Under this scheme, the import duties applicable to products eligible for tariff preferences and originating from developing countries were at the level of 75% of the MFN duty rates and from least-developed countries at the level of 0%. 
The Russian Federation would reform its tariff regime for sugar in 2012, with a view to further liberalisation.
By the date of accession, any tariff exemption for space equipment would be provided on a Most Favoured Nation basis.
No licences would be required for imports of more than a dozen encryption technology products (the list includes electronic digital signature devices, personal smart-cards or wireless radio equipment). For those products, any existing import restrictions would be eliminated. No new restrictions, including experts’ evaluations, approvals, and licences, would be adopted or applied. For those encryption technology related products needing an import licence, expert evaluation and approval would only be needed once.
Products including alcohol, wood and meat would be subject to measures requiring their declaration and/or entry at designated customs checkpoints. Any measures contrary to the WTO Agreement would be eliminated as of the date of accession. The Russian Federation would not apply country-specific customs procedures.
The Russian Federation would apply all its laws, regulations and other measures governing transit of goods (including energy) in conformity with GATT and WTO provisions. From accession, all laws and regulations regarding the application and the level of charges and customs fees imposed in connection with transit would be published.
The Russian Federation would review market access requirements for the establishment of direct branches of foreign banks and securities firms in the context of future negotiations on the accession of the Russian Federation to the OECD or within the framework of the next round of WTO multilateral trade negotiations.
In its participation in preferential trade agreements, Russia would observe the provisions of the WTO Agreement without any differentiating between those agreements already in effect upon accession and those which would come into effect in the future.

Government Procurement Agreement

The Russian Federation intends to join the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and would notify this intention to the WTO Government Procurement Committee at the time of accession. Russia would become an observer to the GPA and would initiate negotiations for membership within four years of its accession. Russian government agencies would, upon accession, award contracts in a transparent manner.

Industrial and agricultural subsidies

The Russian Federation would eliminate all its industrial subsidies programmes or modify them so that any subsidy provided would not be contingent upon exportation or upon the use of domestic over imported goods. The Russian Federation would notify its subsidies to the WTO and would not invoke any of the provisions of Articles 27 and 28 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

The total trade distorting agricultural support would not exceed USD 9 billion in 2012 and would be gradually reduced to USD 4.4 billion by 2018.
To avoid excessive concentration of support on individual products, from the date of accession to 31 December 2017, the annual agricultural support going to specific products would not exceed 30% of the agriculture support that is not for specific products.
All agricultural export subsidies will be bound at zero.
The VAT exemption applied to certain domestic agricultural products would be eliminated upon accession.

Pricing of energy

Producers and distributors of natural gas in the Russian Federation would operate on the basis of normal commercial considerations, based on recovery of costs and profit.
The Russian Federation would continue to regulate price supplies to households and other non-commercial users, based on domestic social policy considerations.

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT)

All SPS measures would be developed and applied in the Russian Federation and the Custom Union, in accordance with the WTO Agreement.
The Russian Federation would ensure that all legislation related to technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures complies with the WTO TBT Agreement. 
The Russian Federation would develop and apply international standards on SPS measures through membership and active participation in the Codex Alimentarius, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Plant Protection Convention. 
The reasons for suspension, cancellation, or refusal of an import permit would be consistent with international standards, recommendations, and guidelines as well as the WTO SPS Agreement.
The Russian Federation would negotiate veterinary export certificates that include requirements different from those of the Custom Union if an exporting country made a substantiated request prior to 1 January 2013 to negotiate such a certificate.
Except in case of serious risks of animal or human health, Rosselkhoznadzor, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, would not suspend imports from establishments based on the results of on-site inspection before it had given the exporting country the opportunity to propose corrective measures. Rosselkhoznadzor would send a preliminary report to the competent authority of the exporting country for comments.
The Russian Federation would use international standards for the development of technical regulations unless they were an ineffective or inappropriate means for achieving the pursued objectives.
By the end of 2015, mandatory requirements for telecommunication equipment used in public networks would be limited to the requirements contained in technical regulations adopted consistently with the Eurasian Economic Community and Custom Union agreements.
The Russian Federation would regularly review its lists of products subject to obligatory certification or declaration of conformity, as well as all the technical regulations applied on its territory (Custom Union and Eurasian Economic Community included) to ensure that they remained necessary to achieve the Federation’s objective, in accordance with the WTO TBT Agreement.
Certified accreditation bodies would be replaced by a single national accreditation body no later than 30 June 2012. The name and other information regarding this body would be published on the Rosstandart website and the website of the Custom Union Commission.

Trade-related investment measures

The Russian Federation would ensure that all laws, regulations and other measures related to the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures would be consistent with the WTO provisions.
All WTO-inconsistent investment measures, including preferential tariffs or tariff exemptions, applied in relation to the existing automobile investment programmes and any agreements concluded under them would be eliminated by 1 July 2018. No other trade related investment measures inconsistent with the WTO Agreement may be applied after Russia’s accession to the WTO.

Protection of trade-related intellectual property

The Russian Federation would fully apply the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights including provisions for enforcement, without recourse to any transitional period.
The Russian government would continue to take actions against the operation of websites (with servers located in the Russian Federation) that promote illegal distribution of content protected by copyright or related rights.
The Russian Federation would investigate and prosecute companies that illegally distribute objects of copyright or related rights on the Internet.
By the time of its accession, the Russian Federation would apply all rules of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

Transparency

The provisions of the WTO Agreement would be applied uniformly throughout the Russian Federation territory, including in regions engaging in frontier traffic, special economic zones and other areas where special regimes for tariffs, taxes and regulations could be established. 
All legislation affecting trade in goods, services and intellectual property rights would be published promptly, consistent with WTO requirements. The Russian Federation would regularly update its official publications including websites and make these laws readily available to WTO members, individuals and enterprises.
To improve access to official publications, the Russian Federation would establish an enquiry point providing assistance to members and all other stakeholders.
In particular, the Russian Federation would publish all legislation, affecting trade in goods, services, or intellectual property rights, prior to their adoption and would provide a reasonable period of time, no less than 30 days, for members to comment, except for emergency cases, national security, monetary policy, measures whose publication would impede law enforcement, be contrary to the public interest, or prejudice the commercial interest of particular public or private enterprises. No legislation affecting trade in goods, services or intellectual property rights would become effective prior to publication.
The Russian Federation would provide annual reports to WTO members on developments in its on-going privatization programme for as long as it would be in existence.
Lists of goods and services subject to state price controls would be published in the Rossiiyskaya Gazeta from the date of accession. Russia would apply price controls on certain products and services, including natural gas, raw diamonds, vodka, water supply services, gas transportation services, baby food, medical goods, public transport services and railway transportation services. Price control measures would not be used for purposes of protecting domestic products, or services provided.

Functioning of the Custom Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus

The Custom Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus was created on 1 January 2010. All customs borders were removed between the three countries on 1 July 2011.
From 1 January 2012, the three states would have a single economic space.
The Russian Federation would publish any Custom Union legislation before adoption and would provide a reasonable period of time for WTO members and all stakeholders to comment to the competent Custom Union Body.

Notes :

1. Applied duties refer to the Common External Tariff of the Customs Union in June 2011.

2. Averages are culculated following the methodology used in the World Tariff Profiles. 

source: www.wto.org

FM Lavrov Explains Russia’s Veto on Syria Resolution in UN

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday explained why Russia had vetoed a resolution on Syria in the UN Security Council, saying that without Russia's latest amendments, the draft would be unilateral and would harm Syria if adopted.

Veto-wielding UN Security Council members Russia and China on Saturday blocked the Morocco-proposed draft resolution on Syria that called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Thirteen of the council’s 15 members voted in favor of the draft, backed by the Arab League and the West.
At least 5,400 people have been killed in the Syrian government's 11-month crackdown on protesters, according to the UN. Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs affiliated with al-Qaeda and say more than 2,000 soldiers and police have been killed.

Lavrov said he had on Friday sent Russian amendments to the draft resolution to U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and Russia’s envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin so that all partners could get familiarized with them.


 Source: www.vesti.ru

“The rationality and objectivity of these amendments should not cause anyone’s doubt,” Lavrov said.
Some Western countries have been trying to persuade Moscow to support a resolution effectively authorizing a military operation, but Russia has repeatedly insisted that the Western drive for a stronger crackdown on Syria is preparation for a “Libyan scenario.”

In Libya, rebels ousted and killed long-standing dictator Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011 after a months-long military standoff in which they received assistance from NATO forces.
Although UN Security Council diplomats had toned down the latest draft in an apparent move to overcome Russia’s opposition, Lavrov said the Morocco-submitted plan was “unilateral.”

The Russian foreign minister said extremist groups that provoke violence in Syria should be assessed in a proper way, which has not been done. He said the resolution did not set enough demands on anti-government armed groups, and that Russia was concerned it could jeopardize Syria’s national political dialogue.
Besides, he said, the draft resolution contained a demand that all Assad’s forces should withdraw from cities and towns.

“This phrase, without being linked to a simultaneous termination of violence on the part of armed extremist groups, is absolutely provocative, as no president with self-respect, no matter how treated, will agree to surrender inhabited localities to armed extremists without resistance,” he said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said on Saturday she was "disgusted" by the Russian and Chinese veto on the draft, and that “all further bloodshed” that could follow will be on the two countries’ conscience.
"For months this council has been held hostage by a couple of members. These members stand behind empty arguments and individual interests while delaying and seeking to strip bare any text that would pressure Assad to change his actions,” Rice said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the veto, and his statement distributed through his spokesperson called it “a great disappointment to the people of Syria and the Middle East, and to all supporters of democracy and human rights.”
“It undermines the role of the United Nations and the international community in this period when the Syrian authorities must hear a unified voice calling for an immediate end to its violence against the Syrian people,” Ban said.

Russia along with China already vetoed a European-drafted resolution containing the threat of sanctions against Syria in October 2011.

Lavrov said another problem was the draft’s demand that Assad step down.
Russia, one of Assad’s firm supporters during the uprising against his regime, indicated earlier this week that it would veto the draft resolution calling on Assad to step down and providing for “further measures” should he refuse. Moscow has proposed its own draft, which the West criticized as being too soft.

“We have repeatedly said that we are not protecting Assad but international law. The prerogative of the UN Security Council does not envision interference in internal processes,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov also said on Saturday he and Foreign Intelligence Service head Mikhail Fradkov will visit Syria and meet with President al-Assad on February 7 on instructions from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Russian Ambassador Churkin said after the Security Council vote: “The draft resolution that was put to a vote did not reflect Syria’s realities well enough and sent conflicting signals to the political forces in Syria.”
Asked why Russia initially agreed with the resolution but then changed its mind, Churkin said the situation has changed in the past month since the Arab League put forward its plan for Syria.

The heads of the Russian and Chinese delegations said their countries hope the international community continues its efforts to stop violence in Syria.

Source: www.ria.ru

Conclusions on the customs cooperation with eastern neighbouring countries

"THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION NOTING THAT:

The European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership and the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation are priorities of the European Union aimed at establishing an institutional framework for a closer political and economic cooperation between the EU and its Eastern Neighbour countries;

HAVING REGARD TO:

• the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements concluded between the EU and its Member States and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova, Russia and Ukraine;
• the Council conclusions on the European Neighbourhood Policy adopted by the Council on 20 June 2011;
• the strong commitment of the EU and its Eastern European Partners to further enhance the political association and economic integration which is confirmed by the Eastern Partnership and the negotiations of association and Deep And Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA); 
• the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw, 29-30 September 2011 concerning in particular the agreement to further enhance the cooperation in the areas of integrated border management, fight against drugs, organised crime and corruption; 
• Strategic frameworks for customs cooperation with Russia and, when endorsed, with Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine; 
• the conclusions of the meetings on Customs Cooperation at the Eastern Border of the EU, in particular the High Level Seminar held in Budapest on 14-15 April 2011 and  the High Level Seminar “Towards better cooperation” held in Cracow on 19-21 October 2011;  
• the Commission Action Plan to fight against smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol along the EU Eastern border
• the Council conclusions on a strategy to prepare certain neighbouring countries for accession to the 1987 EC-EFTA Conventions on a common transit procedure and the simplification of formalities in trade in goods;  
• the ongoing European Union efforts to combat the smuggling of highly taxed goods, in particular the large scale investigations coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the Agreements concluded by the EU and Member States with tobacco manufacturers, the regional and cross-border measures under the Eastern Partnership, the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument as well as the role played by the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM)

WITH A VIEW TO FOCUSING ON THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREAS OF COOPERATION AS AGREED IN BUDAPEST AND IN CRACOW:

• developing safe and fluid trade lanes;
• promoting risk management and the fight against fraud;
• investing in customs modernisation in the region; 

INVITES THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES TO COOPERATE WITH THE EASTERN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES WITH A VIEW TO:

1.  Develop safe and fluid trade lanes, in particular by:

• giving support to the countries in the region in their preparations for the extension of the Common Transit Convention and the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods which are powerful instruments for trade facilitation, for increasing the harmonisation of procedures and to convey economic integration;
• considering assistance in the development of reliable and compatible authorised economic operators systems in the Eastern neighbouring countries and later on the mutual recognition thereof;
• enhancing coordination at the border including the creation of fast lanes and the development of infrastructure where applicable;
• supporting initiatives of Member States that facilitate speedy transportation of goods through the EU Eastern border. 

2.  Promote risk management and the fight against fraud, in particular by:

• cooperating in developing and improving risk management systems and methods of risk analysis, including in order to increase the performance in the application of security and safety measures and to prevent smuggling of highly taxed goods and valuation fraud; 
• developing exchanges of information on a sound legal basis to facilitate trade and strengthen risk management, beginning by studying needs, building on the experience of past and current schemes of information exchange such as pilot projects;  
• organising joint actions targeting risk areas and/or identified illicit trade routes in the region; 
• stepping up actions to fight against smuggling of cigarettes and alcohol along the EU Eastern border; 
• launching a study to identify the information useful to exchange and the ways of transmission, to strengthen risk management and improve customs controls with the view of establishing safe and fluid trade lines as well as fighting fraud.

3. Foster customs modernisation, in particular by:

• assisting the countries in the region in capacity building, including development and implementation of customs modernisation strategies;  
• cooperating to facilitate convergence of customs legislation and procedures in line with the objectives of free trade area agreements currently negotiated or foreseen. 

4. Explore the possible use of available assistance mechanisms for these purposes, such as: 

• Customs 20133and its successor programme;
• Hercule II and its successor programme;
• Twinning and other assistance projects;
• Programmes for regional and trans-border cooperation;
• EU Border Assistance Mission.

5. Seek to prepare and adopt the Strategic Frameworks as instruments to strengthen the customs cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

6. Continue the dialogue between the EU and Eastern neighbouring countries by setting up regular dedicated customs fora.

INVITES THE COMMISSION TO:

• evaluate the progress achieved in the agreed priority areas;
• report to the Council on the progress in order for the Council to propose a follow up to the above actions by the end of 2013."

 Source: www.consilium.europa.eu

Air transport: Commission welcomes agreement on Siberian overflights

European Commission - Press release

Brussels, 01 December 2011 - The European Commission and the Russian government have agreed to modernise the system of Siberian overflight payments. From 1 January 2014, any charges EU airlines have to pay for flying over Russian territory will be cost-related and transparent. They will not discriminate between airlines. The agreement is set out in an exchange of letters between Russian Economic Development Minister Ms Elvira Nabiullina, on the Russian side, and Vice-President Siim Kallas and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht for the Commission. The agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2012 after the WTO Ministerial Conference has given its green light to Russia's WTO accession, which is expected to happen on 16 December 2011.

Currently, EU air carriers are obliged to pay for flying over Siberia on flights to destinations in Asia. It is estimated that these payments cost around €320 million per year – most of it going directly to Aeroflot. The EU has long been concerned that these payments are in breach of both EU antitrust law and international law (Chicago Convention). Moreover, they drive up airline costs unfairly, making air tickets from Europe to destinations in Asia more expensive and distorting competition between airlines on these markets. They also create an additional burden on trade relations between the EU and Asia.

The basis for today's agreement was prepared in 2006, based on a set of "Agreed Principles", but will only now enter into force.

Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas highlights the importance of this break-through in EU-Russia aviation relations: "Siberian overflight royalties have for decades been the single most important obstacle for further developing EU-Russia aviation relations to the detriment of airlines and passengers. Today's agreement is therefore a very important milestone towards strengthening closer cooperation in many areas of aviation. Igor Levitin, the Russian Minister of Transport and I agreed on this during the recent EU-Russia Aviation Summit in St. Petersburg and we have worked very closely with the Polish Presidency to finalise the agreement. This agreement clearly reflects the positive spirit of St. Petersburg! We now look forward to its swift implementation."

Commissioner Karel De Gucht underlines the importance of this agreement for Russia's WTO-accession: "The clear commitment we received from Russia to make charges for flying over Siberia cost-related, transparent and non-discriminatory helped pave the way for the EU to support Russia's accession to the WTO. Both of these developments are very good news."

Next steps
Russia and EU Member States have until 1 July 2012 to modify their bilateral Air Services Agreements in order to fully implement the "Agreed Principles".

For more information on EU-Russia aviation relations:
MEMO/11/695
MEMO/11/167

Russian presidential elections: 4 March 2012

Yesterday, 25 November, the oficial start of the presidential marathon was given with the publication of the election date: 4 March 2012.

Edinaya Rossiya is about to nominate its leader, Vladimir Putin, as their presidential candidate. Other parliamentary parties have already announced the dates for their meetings in which they will elect their candidate, but they will only take place after the Duma elections. (4 December 2011)

Documents for registration have to be presented between 14 December and 18 January. The candidates of non-parliamentary parties need to collect more than 2 million signatures. The registration office will then give their decision within 10 days. Thus, at the end of January, the country its candidates for the presidential elections of 4 March 2012.

On 5 March the preliminary results will be read out and the official results should be published no later than 15 March.

source: www.vesti.ru

EU welcomes conclusion of negotiations on Russia\'s WTO accession

Brussels, 10 November 2011 - The EU has today welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for Russia's accession to the WTO. Today's unanimous approval by the Members of the Working Party on Russia's WTO accession brings an end to this 18 year long process and paves the way to formalising the results of these negotiations by the entire Membership of the WTO. The EU now looks forward to a unanimous political endorsement of Russia's WTO accession at the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference on 15-17 December this year.

European Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, welcomed the news saying, "I am delighted that Russia is now set to join the WTO. This is an important step for Russia's economic development and for the multilateral trading system. I'm also very pleased at this achievement today because Europe has played a critical role to ensure this long-standing goal has finally been reached. I now look forward to the upcoming WTO Ministerial in December to formally endorse Russia's accession to the WTO Membership."

The EU acknowledges the major efforts of the Russian Federation as well as its negotiating partners in finding solutions for the most difficult issues, which were resolved in the last weeks and days. The EU is also appreciative of the determination of Georgia and Russia to reach a timely resolution of their sensitive bilateral issues, and we very much welcome the efforts of the Government of Switzerland for their instrumental role in this respect.

The accession of Russia to the WTO is significant from both a multilateral and bilateral perspective. Russia as well as its trading partners will benefit from Russia's integration into the global, rules-based system of trade relations. Russia's accession to the WTO is especially important for the EU, Russia's largest trading partner. We are convinced that this step will give a major boost to further development of our economic relationship. Russia's membership in the WTO will also prove an important stepping stone for deepening the bilateral economic integration, including through the conclusion of the ongoing negotiation on the New Agreement.

Background

Benefits for the EU of having Russia in the WTO:

It would open up opportunities in the Russian market for EU investors and exporters alike. Russia's import tariffs would come down and there would be a limit on export duty levels for a list of essential raw materials.

WTO accession would improve the overall business and investment climate. Russia would adopt international product standards and WTO rules in a number of areas such as customs procedures, licensing and intellectual property.

Accession and the ensuing economic reforms would help to make Russia's economy more transparent and predictable. This would create a strong incentive for foreign companies to boost their investments in the Russian economy – in all sectors.

Russia's entry in the WTO will have an estimated value for the European Union of €3 900 million.

EU-Russia trade in facts and figures

Russia is the EU's third largest trading partner after the US and China with an 8.6% share of EU trade in 2010.

The EU is Russia's biggest trading partner with a 45.8% share of its overall trade in 2010. Total trade with Russia amounted to €244 billion in 2010, compared to €183 billion in 2009. Imports from Russia increased by 31.4% in 2010, and exports from the EU to Russia went up by 38.2%.

The EU is by far the most important investor in Russia. It is estimated that more than 75% of the investment stock comes from the EU.

Useful links:

On EU trade relations with Russia:

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/russia/

Statement by President Barroso on the conclusion of a bilateral agreement between Georgia and Russia on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), 3 November 2011 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/759

source: http://europa.eu