Medvedev: New influential alliances must be monitored

GORKI. Oct 29 (Interfax) – Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has urged the government to analyze the emerging alliances, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the free trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union which, he said, could impact Russia’s economic interests.

“While tacking issues related to the World Trade Organization one cannot disregard other processes in the global economy. I mean the multilateral formats in trade and economic cooperation, as well as the trade talks currently underway, including talks being conducted by the United States, the European Union and some of our partners,” Medvedev told the cabinet while assessing Russia’s past year in the WTO.

He said he also meant the formation of the Pacific Partnership. “I am not giving any political assessments now. Clearly, all this is motivated by various economic interests as a rule. In any case, we understand that the implementation of such initiatives, whether Ukraine’s joining the European Union’s free trade zone, the creation of corresponding mechanisms with the EU, or more serious partnerships I have mentioned, they seriously influence our economic interests,” the prime minister said.

Medvedev said that the influence is not always negative and sometimes brings advantages. “Anyway, we must assess what is going on in the world and the emergence of new alliances, and keep all of these issues within the zone of permanent attention,” Medvedev said.