DUSHANBE
, May 25, Asia-Plus — A Georgian delegation did not sign any items tabled to the agenda t
he meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of Government that was held in
Dushanbe
on May 25
.
The Government of Georgia is examining whether to quit the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), but has not yet reached a final decision, Georgian Deputy Prime Minister also State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Georgy Baramidze told journalists following t
he meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of Government
.
“I delivered a statement on behalf of the Georgian Government that was enclosed with the meeting’s document,” Mr. Georgy Baramidze said, noting that
Georgia
had placed great hopes on the CIS for peaceful conflict resolution, freedom of movement of its citizens, and improvements in economic relations.
“But everything turned out exactly to the contrary; for
Georgia
in any case,” said the Georgian official, “Our hopes in the CIS were not justified, so there is no longer any sense in staying in the CIS.”
Baramidze said however that the Government of Georgia has not yet reached a decision on this subject.
“I informed our friends that the Georgian president ordered the government to assess an expediency of
Georgia
’s remaining a CIS member,” stressed Georgy Baramidze, “We have also studied this issue both with our friends within the CIS and with the Western countries.”
He added that
Georgia
intended to retain friendly relations with the CIS states as far as they make this possible and continue all efforts to resolve all issues on a bilateral level, so that our citizens can visit CIS states if possible without visas, and so that
Georgia
’s businesses can sustain mutually beneficial relations with CIS partners.
