Russia has not received any official notification from Georgia about its stated intention not to support Russia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) until Moscow allows Georgian customs officers to work in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian Minister for Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina said, RIA Novosti reports.
Georgian Premier Nikoloz Gilauri said on October 7 that his country will not support Russia's request to join the WTO until the customs issue is resolved. This declaration was made after the agreement between the Russian and US presidents that the USA will support Russia in joining the organization. Russia has been requesting membership of the WTO since 1993.
Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin reported that Georgia's position cannot drag out the procedure for joining the WTO.
