The document is signed by German Gref, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, for Russia, and Irakli Rekhviashvili, Economy Minister, for Georgia.
The protocol confirms an end of negotiations on commodities, services and farming. It also concerns compliance of Russian laws, commercial arrangements and economic policies with WTO standards. The signatories pledge to do all they can for remaining commercial and economic problems to be settled as soon as possible.
Georgia, which joined the WTO in 1999, is a second country in the Commonwealth of Independent States, after Kyrgyzstan, to sign such a protocol with Russia. Another two CIS countries, Moldova and Armenia, are WTO members. Russo-Moldovan negotiations are underway. Armenia has no disputable issues to settle with Russia for the latter's WTO membership, so talks are unnecessary.
Russia has by now finished tariff talks with WTO countries, with respective protocols signed. The one with the European Union was signed, May 21.
