OREANDA-NEWS. January 16, 2007. US Senator and the Republican leader of the Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar believes that Ukraine may join the World Trade Organization this year, reported the Official website www.kmu.gov.ua.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv Wednesday, the Senator said that the pace of Ukraine's economic development can well provide it with WTO membership this year.

When asked about cooperation in the energy sphere, Mr. Lugar said that Ukraine should better prospect for its own oil and natural gas resources, although this is not easy.

He said that one of his goals during trips to Ukraine, as well to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan is to foster friendlier relations as regards energy cooperation.

Earlier, the WTO Headquarters announced that Ukraine may join the organization at the meeting of the organization's General Council to take pace in Geneva on February 7 and 8. The unresolved issue of Ukraine's customs duties on EU imports is the last obstacle to its WTO membership.