"The last statements made by Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia's president, with respect to Russia were optimistic. His success at the negotiations with Moscow on the withdrawal of Russian military bases gives the Georgian president grounds to normalize relations with Russia and bring the ongoing talks on this issue to completion. Therefore, it would be inexpedient to raise the issue of Georgia's withdrawal from the CIS now," said Ramaz Sakvarelidze in an interview to RIA Novosti.
In the Georgian politologist's opinion, "this is not the time for such a protest gesture."
"Why to offend Russia if this offence will give no political dividends to Georgia? Even without this, Georgia is viewed as a country criticizing Russia's policy, while Georgia's membership in the CIS does not make Georgia temporize with it. From the pragmatic point of view, it makes no difference now whether Georgia will stay in the CIS or withdraw from it. I do not think this is the time to declare the withdrawal," the Georgian president's adviser said.
Meanwhile, the theme of Georgia's withdrawal from the CIS is becoming topical in the country's parliament. Thus, deputies from the Conservative opposition party intend to initiate the discussion of this issue in the parliament next week.
It is interesting that the Georgian government offers no comments on Tbilisi's possible demarche. When asked whether Georgia will secede from the CIS in the near future, Georgia's prime minister Zurab Nogideli declined to give a direct answer.
"Now we are busy preparing for the Council of the CIS countries' prime ministers which will meet in session on June 3," Zurab Nogideli said.
Gela Charkviani, press-speaker of the Georgian president, also declines to make any comments on Georgia's possible withdrawal from the CIS. At a Friday briefing, he refused to answer a question to this effect.
