Russia’s chief trade negotiator Maxim Medvedkov insists on setting apart negotiations and relations between the two countries.
Photo: Vasily Deryugin
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Georgia Blocks Russia’s Accession to the WTO
Georgia has blocked new talks on Russia’s accession to the WTO at a session of the multilateral task force. Russia’s chief trade negotiator says Russia did not hope for the talks to be held before next January anyway. Even if the United States gives its consent to Russia’s joining the organization, the process will be blocked by Georgia’s stance.
Georgia declined to set a date for a next session of the multilateral task force on Russia’s membership in WTO on Thursday. The Georgian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that Russia has not settled the issues that Georgia pointed out at. The Georgian delegation at the WTO believes that Russia uses “unfair measures which restrict trade”, including curbs on wine and food exports. The president of Georgia’s National Bank Roman Gotsiridze said that Georgia may block Russia’s entry to the WTO in case it does not lift economic sanctions against the country.
Russia’s chief trade negotiator, Maxim Medvedkov prefers to set apart negotiations and relations between the two countries. “Our counterparts have claims concerning imports of wine, cognac and fruit, but it has nothing to do with the WTO,” he told Kommersant. The Russian official gives a pessimistic forecast for further talks. He does not expect new talks to begin within the next three or four months. Moreover, Medvedkov admitted that Georgia may want to “drag the process or block it.”
Meanwhile, talks between Russia and the United States are underway. Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref informed on Friday that the parties had “nearly reached an agreement” on contentious issues. He said an agreement with the United States on Russia’s accession to the WTO may be signed within the next two weeks. Yet, the bilateral agreement will be of little help if Georgia persists in blocking Russia’s entry.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 14, 2006
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