 Notwithstanding the fact that Russia didn't ratify the treaty, Ivan Materov, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Industry and Energy of the Russian Federation, serves as the vice-chairman of the Energy Charter Conference, and Andrei Konoplyanik as the Deputy Secretary General.Russia and the European Union have also failed to finalize the negotiations on the Energy Charter Protocol on Transit.The main issue remain open is how, and to what extent, the Protocol will include mechanisms for establishment long term transit arrangements.