Russia Faces Difficulties in Integration into Global Economy

Before Russia stands the task of becoming integrated into the global economy. And in regard to this, not everything is going smoothly. A Rosbalt correspondent reports that this was the message of Sergei Rogov, Director of the US/Canada Institute, at a press conference on Tuesday. Rogov noted that Russia has yet to find 'a very successful niche in the world economy. President Putin did not by chance say that we can once again shoot up with the 'oil needle,' to get our fix,' emphasized Rogov. 'Moreover, Russia still hasn't been accepted into the World Trade Organization. So we have some things to give and some things to gain in return.' Rogov does not agree with the view of former US President Ronald Reagan as the main cause of democratic reform in Russia. In Rogov's opinion, the West doesn't have a strategy for Russia's integration. 'They say a lot of pretty words, but it was only three years ago that they let Russia into the G8 as a full partner. And even now, when it comes to financial-economic issues the organization acts as the 'Great Seven', without Russia,' stressed the political scientist. 'But it is our fault in the fact that we are implementing reforms so slowly.' In Rogov's view, Russia now occupies a fully empowered chair at the current summit in the US, but when economic problems come to the table, Russia will have to 'pull up a stool.'