Georgian parliament to mull possible pullout from CIS

The Georgian parliament decided on Tuesday to discuss the country's possible withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Parliament leader Nino Burdzhanadze was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying that the decision does not mean the beginning of the procedure of Georgia's leaving the CIS, but only "the beginning of the review of this question."

Consultations with the parliamentary majority and the president on this issue were needed and the issue could be included in the parliament's agenda if necessary, Burdzhanadze said.

The debate was initiated by a leader of the opposition Democratic Front, David Berdzenishvili.

"When Georgia entered the CIS, many Georgian politicians and public figures opposed it. The past years have shown that membership in the CIS has given nothing and is giving nothing to Georgia. Moreover, staying in the CIS contradicts our main goals -- accession to NATO and the European Union," he said.

Georgia joined the CIS in late 1993.

Source: Xinhua