Burjanadze Slams Russia in a Letter to CIS PA

Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze sent a letter to the participants of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS PA) in St. Petersburg, which was boycotted by the Georgian delegation after the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi refused to issue an entry visa to MP Givi Targamadze – Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security.

?This politically-motivated step is directed not only against Georgia, but against the entire CIS as well,? Nino Burjanadze says in a letter.

?This unprecedented and cynic fact demonstrates Russia?s real attitude towards Georgia and emphasizes the unwillingness of certain circles of Russian authorities to establish constructive cooperation with our country,? the letter reads.

In the letter, Burjanadze also speaks about the incapability of the CIS and calls on the member states to react to Russia?s double standard policies in regard to neighbor countries.

?Practically, since the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Russian authorities consider the organization a supplementary Russian [tool], as well as a mechanism for implementing Russia?s unilateral policy,? the letter reads.
 
Burjanadze focuses on all issues which the Georgian delegation planned to push at the CIS Parliamentary Assembly. Among these issues is a peace plan for a settlement of the South Ossetian conflict. The letter also speaks about the positive aspects of Russo-Georgian relations and stresses the importance of an agreement reached between the Russian and Georgian sides over the pullout of Russian military bases from Georgia.

?We think that similar progress should be achieved in settlement of conflicts on the territory of Georgia,? the letter says.

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