MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia (AmCham) have discussed proposals on lifting economic sanctions, the RSPP head Alexander Shokhin told reporters.
"We met with Robert Agee (AmCham Russia head - TASS) a couple of weeks ago, and he said about his intention to prepare a white paper. We supported some of priorities that he mentioned. For example, civil aviation, spares, components, maintenance of civil aircraft. This is what is related to safety of citizens. And such issues could top the list," he said. "Equally, we surely welcome the return of Russian banks to the SWIFT system and normalization of payment relations," Shokhin added.
Though the issue was discussed, the parties agreed that it was "a thing difficult to implement," he noted.
"Of course, we all are standing up for it if it is defined as an issue for discussion. In particular, we thought that environmental projects would also be removed from the sanctions list. For example, net equipment for energy, for offshore, Arctic operations, etc.," Shokhin said.
He also noted restrictions in the pharmaceuticals sector, which impede investments in development of companies operating in Russia.
"This is why, overall, we strongly support the preparation of the so-called white paper for the American authorities. Of course, we are holding a conversation in kind of a dialogue. Broadly speaking, (US President Donald - TASS) Trump has said that he would meet (Russian President Vladimir - TASS) Putin within a month and a half, which is why it would be good to prepare it in March not to miss it," the RSPP head concluded.
Russian business has something to offer in the negotiation process on the issue of lifting sanctions, he stressed.
"We have a negotiation framework. Americans have said that they appointed their negotiators on Ukraine. Well, we would probably appoint our negotiators relying on the level of the US side and their functions. And they should be given the possibility to negotiate," Shokhin said.