Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is in Dushanbe to attend a summit of leaders of the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Twenty issues were discussed at the summit, including security, trade, economics and migration. The participants of the summit agreed on a plan to refine the CIS format, though President Saakashvili did not sign the relevant document.

"We did not sign the main conceptual document of the CIS for one simple reason: we believe that, in effect, none of the positive norms of the CIS work in regard to Georgia. We have good relations with nearly all member countries of the CIS, but there are a number of issues with the Russian Federation that are not observed, namely: the free movement of our people, of our products and services.

"A 100-per cent economic trade embargo, as well as often a visa and overall trade embargo are effectively in force against Georgia. As you know, this has not led Georgia to collapse. Georgia is still developing dynamically and, contrary to some people's expectations, Georgia is moving forward. We are ready to discuss these issues with Russia through constructive dialogue, we are ready to hold meetings at all levels, including the presidential level. But these mechanisms are not working and we cannot deceive ourselves about this. This is what happened before, when my predecessor [Eduard Shevardnadze] would sign all manner of documents," Saakashvili said.

The chairman of the CIS next year will be Kyrgyz President Kurmanbeg Bakiyev while the executive secretary will be the head of the intelligence service at the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lebedev.

The 36th CIS summit will be held in September of next year in Bishkek.

Press Office
of the President of Georgia