Switzerland to monitor Russian cargo shipments crossing Georgian border

Georgia has given Switzerland the task of monitoring Russian cargo shipments across the Psou and Roki mountain passes along the Major Caucasus, a presidential spokesperson said Tuesday. Manana Manjgaladze told reporters that Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday and the two sides agreed that the crossing monitoring would be performed by Switzerland. Switzerland has acted as a mediator between Georgia and Russia regarding the latter's WTO accession process, which started 18 years ago. Georgia is now the only WTO member that has not endorsed Russia's application. Georgia and Russia have not had diplomatic relations since an August 2008 conflict, and Switzerland represents their respective diplomatic interests in Moscow and Tbilisi.