Minister of Finance delays entry of Russia into WTO because of Georgia

Georgia’s position on Russia’s bid for World Trade Organisation membership may delay the process of document finalization for entry into the organization for more than four months, Russian vice-premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said, RIA Novosti reports. Georgia will not support the membership of Russia in the WTO as long as Moscow does not allow Georgian customs officers on the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This was stated by the head of the Georgian government, Nikoloz Gilauri, after the US declared its agreement in principle to Russia's membership of the WTO. Russia has been seeking accession to this organization since 1993.