The small mountainous ex-Soviet republic, which is already a WTO member, is entangled in a furious tit-for-tat row with Russia, which began when Georgian authorities arrested Russian officers on spying charges in late September. Tensions had already been strained between the neighbors, with Russia imposing trade restrictions earlier in the year.
"The Russian Federation has banned imports into its territory of Georgian products - wines, mineral waters, plant products. The situation has been aggravated after the recent introduction of economic sanctions, which actually means an economic blockade of Georgia on the part of Russia," the ministry said.
Russia has cut off transport and postal links with Georgia, deported hundreds of Georgians, closed down several Georgian restaurants and casinos, and threatened to ban money transfers to the country.
Although Tbilisi released the Russian servicemen early in the dispute, tensions between the countries remain high, and Russia has evacuated most of its diplomats and hundreds of its citizens from its southern neighbor.
Russia, the largest economy outside the world's largest trade body, has completed bilateral talks with 57 of the 60 members the 149-nation WTO. Negotiations are continuing with the U.S., Moldova and Georgia.
Geneva is hosting multilateral consultations on Russia's accession to the world's largest trade body.
In view of the strained situation, and with Russia still not responding to proposals on bilateral talks on WTO accession, the Georgian delegation said it would be impossible to set a date for a regular round of WTO accession talks.
"The chairman of the working group, Stefan Johannesson, drew attention to the fact that proceeding from the consensus principle used in the WTO, Georgia's position cannot be disregarded, and called on the Russian delegation for an intensive dialogue with Georgia on access of its production to its [Russian] market," the ministry said.
