PM Speaks of Georgia’s Stance on Russia’s WTO Membership

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said at a news conference in Moscow on November 25 that Georgia has additional demands for Russia if Moscow wants to receive Tbilisi’s consent for Russia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Georgia demands that Georgian custom officers be deployed at the Roki tunnel, which links breakaway South Ossetia with the Russian Federation, as well as at the Adleri-Leselidze border checkpoint in breakaway Abkhazia. Tbilisi wants Moscow to assist in carrying out these goals in exchange for Georgia’s consent for Russia’s WTO membership.

“Our firm position is that goods in Georgia should be delivered through legal customs checkpoints. This is directly linked to the settlement of the conflicts,” Nogaideli said.

Georgian Economy Minister Irakli Chogovadze said on November 24 that Russia will be able to become WTO member only if Moscow meets these demands by Tbilisi.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)