OECD may invite 5 countries to discuss joining-source

PARIS, May 15 (Reuters) The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is considering inviting Chile, Estonia, Slovenia, Israel and Russia to begin membership negotiations, a diplomatic source said today.

The 30-strong OECD, which last expanded its ranks in 2000 by letting in Slovakia, has come under pressure to admit new members. Around 16 countries have asked to join, keen to sign up for a group whose members share a commitment to free-market democracy but which is sometimes seen as a rich man's club.

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said today he hoped ministers from member states, meeting in Paris, would reach an agreement on the enlargement process tomorrow.

''The OECD's platform needs to be more inclusive, bringing in new players in the global economy ... Discussions on enlarging the OECD have been intense and productive and we are working on a proposal which we will present to you tomorrow and which will hopefully receive your approval,'' Gurria said in a statement to the OECD.

Any decisions about enlargement have to be agreed unanimously by the club. Without set membership fees, a key issue over welcoming any new members is agreeing on who would contribute how much.

If a decision is reached tomorrow, a diplomatic source said it would concern inviting Chile, Estonia, Slovenia, Israel and Russia to begin negotiations about membership.

The OECD would then examine how ready the countries are for membership, according to various criteria, and once they are deemed prepared, invitations to join will follow.

On Monday, Constance Morella, US ambassador to the OECD, said there would be a road map decided for the membership of Russia at this week's ministerial meeting, but added that this would include recognition that Moscow had a long way to go.

REUTERS TB RK2055