"There are no decisions on ratification of the Kyoto Protocol apart from the fact that we are moving towards ratification," Mukhamed Tsikanov was quoted as saying by the RIA-Novosti news agency.

President Vladimir Putin's top adviser on economic issues, Andrei Illarionov, said in Moscow the day before that "in its current form, the Kyoto Protocol places significant limitations on the economic growth of Russia."

His comments came as delegates from 180 countries met in Milan, Italy, to examine the future of the Kyoto accord, regarded by environmental protection groups as a key instrument in curbing global warming.

"Of course, in its present form, this protocol cannot be ratified," Illarionov said.

Russian ratification of the Kyoto accord is needed to bring it into force worldwide, but since indicating at a world summit in Johannesburg last year that it would probably ratify the deal, Moscow has issued mixed signals on the topic.

With the world's biggest single polluter, the United States, rejecting the accord, the agreement can only take effect under its complex ratification rules after it has been approved by Russia's parliament.

Tsikanov said that the government could submit the treaty for ratification next year but cautioned that Moscow wanted to see more interest from Europe and Japan in buying "emission credits" from Russia.

Russia, which is the world's third-largest polluter, after the United States and China, stands to be a major beneficiary from the accord.

The cash-strapped country already emits 25 percent less carbon dioxide than it did a decade ago because of the decline of its heavy industry, giving it emission permits that it can sell to Western companies.

"The countries which have increased their emission levels have shown no interest in buying quotas. The ratification of the Kyoto protocol will depend on how effectively they cooperate with Russia in this field," said the Russian deputy minister.

TERRA.WIRE