Wine war latest tension between Russia and neighboring Georgia, Moldavia
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 07, 2006 12:23
The political tension between Russia and neighboring countries Georgia and Moldavia has had a new element added to it: wine trouble. Last week, the head of Russia's Agricultural Products Testing board, Genadiy Onishencko, made a sharp announcement to the press that "We have discovered foreign elements in Georgian and Moldavian wines on the level that could cause harm to humans who consume them. Therefore, import of these wines into our country is going to be forbidden."
This announcement from Moscow, which has been drinking Moldavian and Georgian wines for the last century, was thought to be an April Fool's joke by the capitals of the two countries in question. However, as Onischenko warned, starting from April 5, entry of Moldavian and Georgian wines into Russia was in fact banned.
With nothing in the way of energy resources or valuable industry at this point, both Moldavia and Georgia count on the export of their wines as a major source of income. In the wake of Russia's actions, Georgian leader Mihael Saakashvili said "The Moscow government actually has no problem with our wines. They have chosen to ban our products in response to the fact that Georgia will not bow down to Russia. Their plan is to bring us to our knees with this wine ban. But we will not give up. We will take Russia to court for their dismissal and mistreatment of international trade laws."
With nothing in the way of energy resources or valuable industry at this point, both Moldavia and Georgia count on the export of their wines as a major source of income. In the wake of Russia's actions, Georgian leader Mihael Saakashvili said "The Moscow government actually has no problem with our wines. They have chosen to ban our products in response to the fact that Georgia will not bow down to Russia. Their plan is to bring us to our knees with this wine ban. But we will not give up. We will take Russia to court for their dismissal and mistreatment of international trade laws."