An item from they’ve-got-to-be-kidding department:

Russia says no reason to delay WTO membership bid

MOSCOW, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Blocking Russia from joining the World Trade Organisation because of the conflict in Georgia would defy common sense and break Western promises, a Russian official said on Thursday in response to U.S. warnings.

A senior U.S. official said on Tuesday Russian integration into international institutions such as the WTO was in question because of Moscow’s military operations in Georgia. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday the fighting was hurting Russia’s efforts to join global economic and security bodies.

“There are no formal reasons to stop these (accession) talks,” the senior Russian official, who is close to the WTO membership negotiations, told Reuters.

Oh, shame on us.

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