Saakashvili Comments on CIS

President Saakashvili said on May 2 that he has instructed the government to consider the possible consequences of Georgia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Saakashvili said, while speaking at the School of Public Administration in Kutaisi, that Georgia should quit the organization if “there is no benefit from membership in the CIS.”

“In 1991 Georgia’s independence was recognized by many countries and Georgia refused to become a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, like the Baltic States. Then, in 1993, during the Abkhaz tragedy, a kneeling and humiliated Georgia was forced to join the CIS. I think that, despite the fact that it was a humiliating act, we found many benefits from CIS membership. We were able to maintain ties with many former Soviet states… we were able to establish trade links, we were able to maintain free movement between [former Soviet states]… And we had partnership with the Russian Federation for a long time; our products were sold in Russia and demand [on Georgian products] has recently increased in Russia,” Saakashvili said.

“But now we have been cut off from these links. So we should now sit down and count whether it is it still worth it or not to be in the CIS,” he added.

Saakashvili said that Georgia will refrain from making “a prompt decision without any analysis.”

“Today I instructed the Georgian government to thoroughly study and report in the nearest future – I mean several weeks, maybe a month, maximum two months – about the exact economic estimations over whether it is worth it or not for Georgia to remain in the CIS. If there is still the possibility to gain certain benefits, we will consider remaining in this organization. And If Georgia can no longer benefit from this organization – which I suspect is the case – and if we can not receive anything but humiliation, then the Georgian people, with its Parliament and government, should make a decision which honorable nations should take,” Saakashvili said.

He also said that Georgia should also launch consultations with its partners in the CIS over this issue “to establish a coordinated policy.”