Tuesday, May 20, 2008

WTO director-general congratulates Ukraine on joining organization

Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Pascal Lamy has congratulated Ukraine on joining this organization.

"I am very pleased to welcome Ukraine as a new member. It is a significant step for the WTO as this new membership will strengthen the multilateral trading system", Lamy said.

Ukraine became a WTO member state on May 16.

Ukraine submitted a bid to join the WTO on November 30, 1993.

A final protocol was signed in Geneva on February 5, 2008.

President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko signed a law on the ratification of a protocol on Ukraine's joining the WTO, passed by the parliament, on April 16.