On August 18, Georgia officially and ultimately withdraws CIS membership

GEORGIA

“Even though Georgia officially withdraws CIS membership tomorrow, under 1969 Vienna Convention, it remains party to about 75 international agreements signed within CIS format,” Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Djalagania told today a traditional briefing.

“In August last year, a CIS sovereign country declared war to another sovereign state belonging to Commonwealth. And that caused Georgia to start legal procedures towards quit CIS. That’s a formal process which finishes tomorrow. Nonetheless, I want to stress that we are ready to propose mutually beneficial bilateral relations with organization’s member states in compliance with international principles,” Georgian official said.

On August 18, Georgia officially and ultimately withdraws CIS membership

On August 12, 2008, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made a decision to quit CIS membership, as a sign of protest against Russia’s military operations aimed at forcing peace in South Ossetia. All legal procedures following such decision finished yesterday.

During its CIS membership, Georgia entered into 113 agreements of non-military character.