OREANDA-NEWS  Russia is not going to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO), despite attempts by a number of countries to "squeeze" it out, Dmitry Birichevsky, director of the Department of Economic Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti.

"We are considering all options for our participation in multilateral trade, analyzing the balance of benefits and costs of full membership in the WTO. At the same time, we proceed from the fact that there are grounds to remain in the organization as a full member in order to maintain stable ties with developing countries that are ready to continue cooperation on an equal basis and with mutual consideration of interests," he said.

"It's no secret that unfriendly countries and associations are trying to "squeeze" us out of the WTO. Against this background, the refusal of membership in the organization would be perceived by Westerners as proof of the effectiveness of their anti-Russian line and would serve to further tighten their anti-Russian course (including on other international platforms), as well as to strengthen the processes of erosion in the regulation of the world economy," the diplomat explained.

The WTO is an uncontested global platform on the basis of which Russia builds trade and economic relations with countries that do not carry out unfriendly actions against it, he added.