MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Less than half of Russians support the accession to the World Trade Organization, and their number is declining, Levada Center told Interfax.

The number of WTO opponents in Russia reached its peak in June - 35% of the respondents said that WTO membership disagreed with Russian national interests. The number of opponents grew from 18% in 2002 to 27-28% in 2008-2009.

39% of June respondents supported the country's entry into the WTO. The entry was supported by 53% of respondents in 2002, 58% in 2004 and 52% in 2010.

Russia had been holding trade negotiations for almost 20 years and the deadlines set by Russian officials were changed repeatedly. Russia came to an agreement with its key partners - the United States and the European Union by 2011. The accession was approved at the WTO ministerial conference on December 16, 2011.

Russia has been also promoting visa-free travel to Europe. While working on that goal, the sides are facilitating visa formalities.

Sociologists said that the attitude of Russians to the EU had been changing steadily. Fifty to fifty-six percent said in 2010 that Russia would seek admission to the EU; the rate declined to 44% in June 2012. The number of opponents enlarged from 23-27% to 31%.

As for Russia's rapprochement with NATO, 47% of the respondents said that would disagree with the national interests (34% in May 2010). The number of supporters of closer relations with the alliance dropped from 33% to 26% within two years. Twenty-eight percent found it difficult to express their position.

Keywords: Russia, WTO, Economy, Trade - Russian News - Russia

MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Less than half of Russians support the accession to the World Trade Organization, and their number is declining, Levada Center told Interfax.

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The number of WTO opponents in Russia reached its peak in June - 35% of the respondents said that WTO membership disagreed with Russian national interests. The number of opponents grew from 18% in 2002 to 27-28% in 2008-2009.

39% of June respondents supported the country's entry into the WTO. The entry was supported by 53% of respondents in 2002, 58% in 2004 and 52% in 2010.

Russia had been holding trade negotiations for almost 20 years and the deadlines set by Russian officials were changed repeatedly. Russia came to an agreement with its key partners - the United States and the European Union by 2011. The accession was approved at the WTO ministerial conference on December 16, 2011.

Russia has been also promoting visa-free travel to Europe. While working on that goal, the sides are facilitating visa formalities.

Sociologists said that the attitude of Russians to the EU had been changing steadily. Fifty to fifty-six percent said in 2010 that Russia would seek admission to the EU; the rate declined to 44% in June 2012. The number of opponents enlarged from 23-27% to 31%.

As for Russia's rapprochement with NATO, 47% of the respondents said that would disagree with the national interests (34% in May 2010). The number of supporters of closer relations with the alliance dropped from 33% to 26% within two years. Twenty-eight percent found it difficult to express their position.