A bilateral child adoptions agreement between Russia and the United States ought to be finalized by spring, child ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said on Wednesday.
"If they [the United States] agree with everything, we will initiate the signature procedure; if not, there will be a new round of talks," Astakhov said, adding that the draft was currently under review by the U.S. side.
He said it had taken around two years to sign a similar treaty with Italy.
"We would like everything to fall into place as soon as possible," he added.
International adoptions between Russia and the United States have been in progress for 16 years, but there is no official bilateral agreement.
Astakhov said in January 17 Russian children have died in the United States as a result of abuse.
Last year, a U.S. woman sent an eight-year-old adopted boy back to Russia unaccompanied. He was carrying a note from his adoptive mother saying she did not want him as he was "psychotic."
MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti)
