BISHKEK, October 10 (RIA Novosti) - Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States member countries said that the alliance is still open for Georgia, which withdrew its membership last month, the organization's executive secretary said on Friday.
Georgia notified the CIS executive committee of its desire to quit the Russian-dominated alliance of former Soviet states on August 18, 2008 after a five-day war with Russia over the Georgian breakaway republic of South Ossetia. Its withdrawal will come into effect next August.
"The heads of states said that the doors of the CIS are still open for Georgia," Sergei Lebedev said.
The CIS summit was held in Kyrgyzstan, which holds the organization's rotating presidency this year.
The CIS comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is a founding and participating country but technically not a member state. Turkmenistan holds associate status.
