Georgia to approve Russia's WTO bid on certain conditions

MOSCOW, May 20 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia is ready to support Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, if both countries resolve issues inhibiting bilateral relations, the Georgian ambassador to Russia said on Tuesday.

Russia has been seeking membership of the global trade body since 1993. So far, Moscow has concluded bilateral talks with over 60 states, but still needs to complete discussions with two WTO members - Saudi Arabia and Georgia.

"Our position is linked to specific issues. If these problems are resolved, we are ready to support Russia's entry into the WTO," Erosi Kitsmarishvili said.

Georgian Reintegration Minister Temuri Yakobashvili said last Friday that the country will continue to block Russia's entry to the global trade body until it withdraws its support for the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.

Tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi have drastically deteriorated since the Russian leadership called for closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another breakaway Georgian republic, in mid-April.