DUSHANBE, August 13, 2008, Asia-Plus — The decision of Georgian authorities to quit the CIS is not so pragmatic, Tajik independent expert Rashid Ghani Abdullo said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, rational and pragmatic politicians seek extensive opportunities for political maneuvers. “Membership of the CIS is purely a voluntary affair,” said the expert, “And member nations remain within the CIS area so far as it meets their national interests.” The Georgian authorities have probably considered that withdrawal from the CIS meets national interests of Georgia, Mr. Abdullo said.
“This decision of the Georgian authorities will not have any serious consequences for the CIS as a certain club of leaders of the post-Soviet states, because leaders of other CIS states will scarcely intend to limit their political opportunities within the CIS area,” he added.
Mr. Abdullo noted that Georgia president’s statement is a logical result of a many-year process on withdrawal of Georgia from the CIS.
“This process existed to a certain extent during the Shevardnadze era as well, and at present, Micheil Saakashvili’s orientation to the West has just speeded the process up,” the expert said, recalling that Vladimir Putin had once called the CIS a ‘civilized divorce’ for the former Soviet states.
Therefore, the Georgia authorities probably suppose that this process for their country has come to an end and withdrawal from the CIS just formalizes this ‘divorce.’
Mr. Rashid Ghani Abdullo noted that the CIS is currently the ground for meetings of heads of the post-Soviet states and other high-ranking state officials of these countries rather then efficient organization. It gives them additional opportunities or discussing any problems and political maneuvers.
