Russian Negotiators Expected in Georgia over WTO Talks

Russian negotiators plan to visit Georgia on May 30-31 to hold talks on the country?s possible accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economy Minister Giorgi Arveladze said on May 17, according to Georgian media sources.

Arveladze reiterated Tbilisi’s demands that Russia, as a precondition for Georgia?s support for Russian WTO accession, stamp out smuggling and legalize trade at the two border crossing points between Russia and the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia, as an existing member, has the right to veto Russian entry.

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