16:41, 23 August 2008

Bryza promises obstacles to Russia's accession to WTO because of conflict in Georgia

The World Trade Organization (WTO) will slow down the process of Russia's accession in reply to actions of this country in the Georgian-South-Ossetian conflict zone, said Matthew Bryza, assistant of the US Under Secretary of State.

Earlier, Georgia had stated that it would block Russia's accession to the WTO until it cancels its decisions on setting up direct trade and economic relations with Abkhazia.

Speaking live on "Echo Moskvy" Radio about Russia's interference into events in South Ossetia, Mr Bryza has emphasized that "such gross infringement of the international law cannot pass unnoticed."

"Among the G8 states or in the WTO there will be no place for today's Russia, which from time to time acts as the former Soviet Union," Senator John McCain, leader of the presidential race among US Republicans, said earlier, speaking on August 18 at the annual congress of the organization of American veterans of wars abroad.