Georgia, Tbilisi, Aug. 9 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
"Georgia does not demand to withdraw troops from its territory at the WTO talks with Russia," Georgian Ambassador to the U.S. Temur Yakobashvili told "Voice of America". "But it demands to fulfill the rules of the international organization."
"The rules clearly define the exchange of goods," he said. "The situation only requires political will of the Russian Federation. I can not comment on the talks in details. If there is political will of the Russian Federation, Russia will become a WTO member. Georgia will not become a barrier to this. But if Russia tries to politicize the situation, it will not lead to good results."
He said that Russia's joining the World Trade Organisation is being negotiated by the U.S. and Russia.
"But everything is determined by the WTO rules," he said. "We call for the negotiations to be held on the WTO rules. We do not block anyone. The terms must be resolved through negotiations between Russia and Georgia. We hope that the talks in Switzerland will allow Russia to join the WTO."
The next round of the WTO talks between Georgia and Russia will be held in Geneva in September.
Military actions were launched in the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia in August 2008. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, and later Russian troops occupied the city and drove the Georgian military back to Georgia.
Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Aug. 26 and established diplomatic relations with the regions on Sept. 9, 2008.