Georgia proposes resuming WTO entry talks with Russia

Georgia on Tuesday proposed resuming talks with Russia on the latter's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) but insisted on legalizing customs checkpoints on a certain section of its border with Russia before Tbilisi backs Moscow's WTO bid.

"Georgia is interested in Russia's entry into the WTO, which would mean Russia's trade policy would be brought in line with generally recognized international norms and standards," said a joint statement by the Foreign Ministry and Economic Development Ministry.

The Georgian government has proposed to Russia to resume bilateral talks on Russia's accession to the WTO as soon as possible, the statement said.

But Tbilisi will only give its consent to Russian membership in the trade body on condition that Moscow fulfills a 2004 agreement on legalization of border customs checkpoints in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it said.

Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said on Sunday Moscow hoped to settle the problem with Tbilisi soon.

Georgia signed a deal with Russia on its entry into the WTO in May 2004 but announced in July this year that it would renegotiate the terms with Russia.

The Georgian statement came just days after Russia and the United States signed a bilateral WTO entry agreement, which cleared the last major hurdle to Moscow's longtime bid to join the world trade body.

Russia -- the largest economy still outside the Geneva-based WTO -- has been negotiating for membership since 1993.

Source: Xinhua