MOSCOW, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia has signed agreements with El Salvador and Costa Rica on Moscow's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Economic Development and Trade Ministry said on Wednesday.

    Russia, the largest economy still outside the Geneva-based world trade body, has been negotiating for membership since 1993. It signed a key deal with the United States in November, clearing the last major hurdle to Moscow's longtime bid.

    Russian officials expect the country to join the WTO next year, but Georgia, which signed a deal with Russia in May 2004, announced in July that it would renegotiate the terms with Moscow.