Saakashvili Says Quitting CIS not Planned

President Saakashvili told reporters in Kiev on December 1 that he does not currently deem it necessary to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States.

?There are discussions underway [about the possible withdrawal from the CIS] in the Georgian Parliament. We should admit that the CIS has many problems, as a union it fails to fulfill its functions, many mechanisms are not working; but regardless of this I am inclined to use [these mechanisms] fully,? the Russian daily Kommersant quoted Saakashvili as saying.

Discussions about Georgia?s possible withdrawal started after a demand by opposition parliamentary factions. Although parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party support the launch of these discussions they are cautious and call for ?a pragmatic approach? to this issue. MP Maia Nadiradze, leader of the parliamentary majority, says that the decision to leave the CIS might trigger negative economic consequences for Georgia and the decision should be well thought-out.

While speaking with reporters in Kiev Saakashvili also denied that Georgia plans to form an ?anti-Russian coalition.? According to Kommersant, responding to a journalist?s question commenting on a statement by Chief of the Georgian President?s Administration Giorgi Arveladze that Georgia plans to form an anti-Russian block, Saakashvili said: ?I do not think he [Giorgi Arveladze] could have said such nonsense.?

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