Georgia considers joining agreement of 4 CIS countries

Georgia is considering the possibility of joining the Single Economic Environment (Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus), Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze told the national radio today. The agreement on the single economic environment formation was signed by the presidents of the four countries at the Yalta summit last week.

Tbilisi does not rule out beneficial cooperation with the four countries if this agreement "does not contradict Georgian internal laws, obligations to the World Trade Organisation and sovereign rights," Shevardnadze said.

According to him, equal integration is admissible for the CIS countries "but is still facing hardships." "It is very important that Russian President Vladimir Putin denied rumors on the possible restoration of the former USSR. We believe that Russia itself is not interested in it," the Georgian leader said.