Georgia accepts new proposal on Russia's WTO bid

Georgia accepted on Thursday a new proposal from Swiss mediators aimed at resolving a border trade dispute and paving the way for Russia to join the World Trade Organization, a senior Georgian diplomat told Reuters.

Sergi Kapanadze, deputy foreign minister and the head of Georgia's delegation to the Swiss-mediated talks, said the proposal would provide for the electronic exchange of trade data and international monitoring of the borders between Russia and two breakaway Georgian regions.

"If Russia accepts this proposal, it will become a WTO member ... there is nothing unacceptable for Russian in this proposal as this document is a result of compromise," Kapanadze said, adding that Russia had yet to agree to the proposal.