CLDP continued to conduct the Summer 2005 campaign of regional conferences dealing with WTO accession and to encourage public dialogue about the issue in Russia. Maxim Medvedkov, the head of the Commercial Negotiations Department of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, traveled to several regional centers to present the history of the WTO, the process and status of Russia's accession efforts, and the possible impact WTO accession will have on the Russian society and economy. By conducting these regional seminars, the central government has opened a dialogue between the government, regional officials and the public on these issues. Not only do the conferences provide great education and information about the benefits of WTO accession, but they also help Russian businesses become more supportive of Russia's accession to the WTO.