'Russia's WTO entry at risk over Georgia'

---

BERLIN, Aug 24 (Reuters): Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is at risk because of its military operations in Georgia, US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez was quoted as saying Saturday.

Gutierrez told German weekly Der Spiegel that Russia was "maneuvering itself into a extremely difficult situation," according to the German text of the interview.

"The president has made it clear several times: until now, America was Russia's advocate when it came to integrating the country into the global community," he told the magazine.

"We included Russia in the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialised nations. We welcomed and pushed forward Russia's desire to join the WTO. That is all at risk now," Gutierrez said.

It was not clear when the interview took place, although it was after NATO suspended regular contacts with Russia over the conflict in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region.

President George W Bush said earlier this month the fighting in South Ossetia was hurting Russia's efforts to join modern global economic and security institutions.

Gutierrez had previously said Russia still had work to do before it was ready to join the WTO, but played down any connection between its military action in Georgia and its 15-year-old membership bid.