Russia's WTO entry remains priority - Nabiullina

MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) Russia's entry into the World Trade Organisation remains a top priority for the government appointed this week, new Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina said on Wednesday.

Putin on Monday appointed Nabiullina, 43, to replace German Gref, the biggest casualty in a government reshuffle. Nabiullina will oversee WTO entry negotiations from the Russian side.

''All agreements previously reached with WTO member states..., including on bringing the Russian legislation in line with WTO rules, must be fulfilled,'' Nabiullina said in a statement circulated by the Economy Ministry.

Russian negotiators were in Geneva on Wednesday for a series of bilateral talks. Russia, the largest country still outside the WTO, aims to join the organisation in 2008.

Nabiullina, a low-key academic and veteran bureaucrat, headed an experts' group preparing Russia's presidency for the Group of Eight industrialised nations and has extensive contacts in the West.

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