WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Countries need to pick up the pace of negotiations to meet a political goal of finishing world trade talks by the end of the year, the head of the World Trade Organization said on Monday.

"Frankly, I don't know" if negotiators can move quickly enough to bridge the gaps, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said in remarks at the Chamber of Commerce.

However, Group of 20 nations leaders have sent a strong signal that they see 2011 as a window of opportunity for finishing the talks started nine years ago, he said.

(Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Eric Beech)