The Republic of Georgia on Tuesday said it would not continue talks on Russia's bid for accession to the World Trade Organization until Moscow reverses its decision to strengthen ties with two bordering separatist provinces. The Georgian government has said repeatedly that Russia is trying to annex the Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Earlier this month Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his government to provide support for both separatist governments.
Russia’s chief negotiator at the WTO, Maxim Medvedkov, said Tuesday that the action by Georgia was unjustified. "We believe the statement by our Georgian partners and the halting of negotiations was the wrong move; one that will not solve problems that have built up in relations between Russia and Georgia, and in the context of our accession to the WTO," he told the Russian press.
Russia is the only major economy outside the WTO, in which it has been seeking membership since 1993. To date, Moscow has concluded bilateral talks with over 60 states but it still needs to complete discussions with two WTO members, Saudi Arabia and Georgia. Relations between Russia and Georgia have been troubled since the pro-Western Mikheil Saakashvili became president of the latter in 2004. Last year, Georgia vetoed Russia's accession to the WTO, demanding that Russia close down its border checkpoints with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Journal of Commerce
