MARCH 28 2011 (The Conway Bulletin) – Under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, each of its 153 members can block the accession of another country.

Russia has been negotiating since 1993 to join the WTO. The US wants it to join and in December 2010, the European Union said it also wanted Russia to join.

The main stumbling block is Georgia. Already a WTO member, Georgia’s block on Russian membership is one of its strongest diplomatic weapons. But Georgia also has to be wary of over playing it.

Georgia and Russia resumed their negotiations over Russian WTO membership during a two-day meeting in Bern on March 9. It was their first meeting on the WTO issue since Georgia broke off talks in April 2008 after Russia strengthened relations with the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Relations worsened further and in August 2008 they fought a brief war.

But now, under pressure from its allies, Georgia is back negotiating with Russia. In exchange for agreeing to Russian WTO membership Georgia wants more control over customs points along its internationally recognised border between Russia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia can take a tough line but it has to be careful not to isolate itself and irritate its allies. Both sides said the meeting in Bern was constructive. The next meeting is expected in April.