PASKAL LAMI: Serbia in WTO by 2009

Serbia could join World Trade Organization, if it continues its efforts, it was estimated in Geneva, on May, 8th, 2008, by the General Director of WTO, Paskal Lami and Serbian Minister of economy, Mladjan Dinkic.

- The process of joining is so far developing well and it can be expected that it will be finalized by 2009, if Serbian Government continues with its efforts, in order to finish the started work - said Lami.

In Geneva, Dinkic was present at the 5th Meeting of the working group for Serbia's joining to WTO, and on this occassion he said that Serbia, should change 70 regulations and laws before joinging to WTO.

- The membership of WTO is a precondition for joining EU, and Serbia will put all its efforts that after it joins WTO in 2009, it becomes a full time member of EU in 2012. Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina are the only countries of the region which are still not members of WTO - said Dinkic, adding that after membership in WTO, Serbia will be able to export to 152 countries members with lower customs fees.