Talks on Conditions of Russia's Accession to OECD No Reason for Pressing - Medvedev

MOSCOW, April 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will not impose itself in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), talks on the country’s admittance into the organization is no reason for pressing, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.

“There are attempts to pressure us in different directions tied to business, in particular in line with the OECD," Medvedev said during his annual report before the country’s lower house of parliament.

"I recently said at a collegiate in the Ministry of Economic Development that talks on the conditions in regard to Russia’s acceptance, I have to admit, into this authoritative and important organization is no reason for pressing. We understand that everything that is done within the preparatory stage is needed, but no one is going to impose himself,” Medvedev added.

In May 2007, OECD members invited Russia to negotiate a possible accession agreement. Moscow hoped to become an OECD member in 2015, but in March the organization announced it was suspending any talks on Russia’s membership. OECD explained this move by its need to answer Ukraine’s call to strengthen bilateral ties.