Georgia will not support Russia’s WTO membership unless issue of border-crossing points in breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia is resolved, spokesperson for the Georgian President said on October 5.

“Georgia’s position remains unchanged,” Manana Manjgaladze said. “Georgia can not support Russia’s WTO membership, unless conditions put forth by the Georgian authorities are met, including issues related with border-crossing points [in breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia] and set of other issues persisting between Georgia and Russia.”

Speaking to investors and government officials at the International Economic Alliance forum in New York on September 22 President Saakashvili said, that Georgia was not the only impediment to Russia’s WTO membership.

"There are many issues out there between them [WTO] and Russia," Saakashvili was quoted by Reuters. "So we were not the last ones left and you should give us some time until we are maybe the last ones ... Maybe we won't be the last ones. But right now there is a long line of countries.”