Georgia Consults with Ukraine over CIS Membership

Georgian and Ukrainian officials have launched consultations over the expediency of membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told reporters on May 7.

“Yesterday [on May 6] we had consultations with our visiting Ukrainian colleagues. We are mainly discussing the positive sides of our membership in this organization and the possible consequences of quitting the CIS,” Bezhuashvili said.

President Saakashvili hinted on May 2 that Georgia may quit the CIS and instructed the government to estimate the possible economic consequences of withdrawing from this organization.