* EU says WTO membership strategically good for Russia
* Moscow, Belarus, Kazakhstan brief WTO on simultaneous bid
* Diplomats say joint bid may not be acceptable
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By Darren Ennis
BRUSSELS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The European Union's trade chief said on Thursday she hopes that Russia decides to keep the option of joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) unilaterally.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan briefed WTO countries on Thursday on their plan to join the 153-member trade watchdog together and possibly as part of a customs union. [ID:nLF630776]
"I hope they will keep the option (of joining on their own) open," EU trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton told Reuters.
Russia has been trying for more than a decade to join the WTO and is the largest economy to remain outside it, accounting for over half of the four percent of world trade not governed by WTO rules.
"Russia needs to see strategically it is better to be in the WTO. It doesn't prevent it having strong relationships with their near neighbours," Ashton said.
Moscow stunned its trading partners earlier this year when it announced it would ditch its unilateral attempt in favour of a bid as part of a customs union with its ex-Soviet neighbours which the three countries hope to form on Jan. 1, 2010.
"Just a few months ago I sat with the Russian trade minister and we worked through the outstanding issues that prevented Russia from joining the WTO and I was very confident we were just months away from Moscow joining," Ashton said.
"So in many ways, Russia needs to think strategically. If they continue unilaterally we could start serious talks on bilateral trade issues and I hope they will see the advantages.
"I think from their point of view joining the WTO as quick as possible would be a good move for them and for all of us," she added. (Editing by Dale Hudson)