Duma Set to Vote on Kyoto

The Russian Parliament, the Duma, will hold a vote on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Friday. The largely pro-Kremlin house is expected to adopt the international treaty on climate change. Interfax reported that Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov has backed the unconditional adoption of the protocol. The vote follows a recommendation from Russian president Vladimir Putin that the Duma approve the text Moscow signed in 1997. With a lack of Chinese and US backing for the deal, Russian support is needed for the treaty to come into force. The EU has pressed hard for Russia to adopt the text, offering support for Russian membership of the World Trade Organisation in return. If the Duma votes to back Kyoto, as expected, it will then go to the upper house and onto President Putin, who will have to sign it into Russian law. (EUobserver.com)