There is no progress in talks over Russia’s WTO entry, the Georgian Economy Ministry said on July 31.

It said Georgia remained committed to its previous position and demanded that Russia legalize trade on the Abkhaz and South Ossetian sections of the border with Georgia.

Tbilisi says that Russia’s refusal to legalize two border crossing points – one in breakaway South Ossetia (the Roki Tunnel) and another one in breakaway Abkhazia (Gantiadi) is a violation of the 2004 protocol between the two countries.

The Economy Ministry said that the Georgian side had sent “a detailed and well-justified” position paper to Russia. Moscow, however, sent “an irrelevant” response, which “fails to address the issues raised by the Georgian side,” the Ministry said.