August 12, 2006	Saturday	Rajab 16, 1427

SIMFEROPOL (Ukraine), Aug 11: Ukraine's government is committed to joining the World Trade Organisation but may delay talks to ensure membership conditions meet producers’ needs, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich said on Friday.

Ukraine, which has an export-driven economy, has been trying to win World Trade Organisation membership since 1993. President Viktor Yushchenko, who came to power in January 2005, after the Orange Revolution, set a government task to join the bloc by the end of this year.

However, Yanukovich, defeated by pro-Western Yushchenko inthe presidential election two years ago but returned to power last week, said more time to study all conditions might be required.

"Certainly, we have a huge interest and the government set itself a task to join the WTO as soon as possible. But the main issue for us is the conditions for joining," he told reporters during a visit to Crimea.—Reuters