Georgia Blocks Russia’s Entry to WTO
The chief WTO negotiator of Georgia, Tamara Kovziridze officially declared yesterday the new standing of Georgia in respect of Russia. Georgia halts all negotiations with Moscow until the political problems of both states are finally sorted out. If Tbilisi doesn’t change its position, Moscow will have to invent a special scenario en route to the WTO.
In 2007, Georgia recalled its signature under the WTO bilateral protocol of 2000. It is the member of the working team for Russia’s admission to that organization, elaborating the report that is to be approved by the WTO members. Both documents are necessary to complete the negotiations.
The scenario with Georgia blocking the WTO negotiations with Russia would call for a precedent, Alexei Portansky, who heads the information bureau on Russia’s admission to the WTO, said earlier. Formally, no consensus voting is required at the final joining stage, in time of voting at the WTO General Council. So far, however, more than 100 nations that joined the WTO were backed up exactly by the vote of 100 percent.
The decision could be taken by the two-third vote, Portansky said. But this effort will also call for negotiations and respective endorsement. Anyway, for people in the WTO, backing up Russia will mean the attack on Georgia, and this practice isn’t welcomed in the organization. Moreover, Georgia has a solid chance to block the work at multilateral negotiations even before reaching the stage of the WTO General Council.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 30, 2008
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