Georgia has not yet removed all of its objections in regard to Russia’s WTO membership, but there has been progress in talks, Interfax news agency reported on January 26 quoting Russian Economy Minister German Gref.

Tamar Kovziridze, Deputy Economy Minister, was in Geneva this week to hold talks with Russian officials over the issue. Georgian officials have not yet released any comment about the negotiations.

However, Georgian Economy Minister Giorgi Arveladze said ahead of the talks on January 22 that Tbilisi is still demanding that Russia legalize trade at the two border crossing points with Georgia located in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“We have a goal to become WTO members by the end of this year. So we have to solve all the problems before the end of this year… Not all the complaints [of the Georgian side] are removed. Very positive negotiations have been held and there are prospects to get our positions closer,” German Gref said in Davos, Switzerland.

“We see clear progress,” he added.