The Georgian side demands that Russia cancel the decision on establishing official links with breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia in exchange of launching bilateral talks on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“Georgia does not change its position and insists that bilateral talks on Russia’s possible entry in the World Trade Organization will continue only after Russia cancels the Russian President’s April decision,” Georgian chief negotiator in WTO talks Tamar Kovziridze told Civil.Ge on May 26.

Kovziridze, who is deputy economy minister, led the Georgian delegation during the WTO talks in Geneva on May 26.

Kovziridze also reiterated that Tbilisi would agree to Russia’s WTO accession if trade at two border crossing points - one in breakaway South Ossetia (Roki Tunnel) and another in breakaway Abkhazia (Gantiadi) - were legalized.
 
The next meeting in Geneva is scheduled for June 16.