Russia and Georgia talk on the WTO

There are some signs that Russia and Georgia are getting down to details in an effort to smooth Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization. As an existing WTO member, Georgia can hold up Russia’s entry. From the Georgian English-language paper The Messenger comes this account: Russian media outlets have reported that on the second ...

By , a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.

There are some signs that Russia and Georgia are getting down to details in an effort to smooth Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization. As an existing WTO member, Georgia can hold up Russia's entry. From the Georgian English-language paper The Messenger comes this account:

There are some signs that Russia and Georgia are getting down to details in an effort to smooth Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization. As an existing WTO member, Georgia can hold up Russia’s entry. From the Georgian English-language paper The Messenger comes this account:

Russian media outlets have reported that on the second round of talks between Tbilisi and Moscow on Russia’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession, the sides “seriously discussed” a scheme, according to which it will be possible to “avoid” the physical presence of Georgian border officers at the Russian-Georgian border sections in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region. Russian newspaper Kommersant published the material based on information provided by an unnamed Russian diplomat, involved in the Russia-Georgia WTO talks. [snip]

The Georgian side has been silent about the specific details of the second round of talks between Tbilisi and Moscow. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, Nino Kalandadze said the negotiations are held “successfully”. “I will refrain from giving out the details, because the sides have an agreement not to disclose specifics of the talks, however it is a positive step, that a very serious specific proposals have been launched,” Kalandadze said. 

David Bosco is a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. He is the author of The Poseidon Project: The Struggle to Govern the World’s Oceans. Twitter: @multilateralist

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