MOSCOW, November 14 - RAPSI. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany will also soon sign a bilateral child adoption agreement with Russia, Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Pavel Astakhov said on Monday.

"The agreement with France is ready to be signed, it has been agreed upon, and I hope it will be signed on November 18. Agreements with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany are under way," Astakhov said.

He added that he believes international adoption should only be conducted on the basis of bilateral agreements.

He noted that the Russian Family Code must be amended, so only countries that have entered into such agreements with Russia will be able to adopt Russian children.

However, Astakhov said he prefers that Russian children remain in the country. "It is a shame to export oil, gas and children," Astakhov said.

Russia signed its first bilateral agreement on cooperation in adoption in November 2008. The document came into effect on November 27, 2009. Russia and the United States signed a similar document in July 2011 in Washington.

In late October, Russian signed a similar agreement with France. Talks on concluding similar agreements with Ireland and Israel are also in progress.