Ivanov Comments on Georgia Quitting CIS Defense Council

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on February 3 that Georgia’s decision to quit the Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was not a surprise for him.   

President Saakashvili signed a decree on Georgia’s withdrawal from the CIS Defense Ministers Council on January 25.

“This was not a surprise, because within at least past five years, Georgia actually did not take any part in the activities of the Council and generally in the military measures implemented within the frames of the CIS,” Ivanov said, adding that “this decision will not essentially change anything.”

The Russian Defense Minister made this statement in Germany, where he is participating in the high level security conference in Munich.