Parliament of Georgia could consider withdrawal from the CIS

Parliament of the Caucasian state of Georgia is to decide on when to consider the country's possible withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States which some in Tbilisi see as an obstacle on the way of Georgia's accession to NATO.

Georgia's parliament is convening to set a date for hearings on a proper draft resolution.

The CIS is made up by 12 ex-Soviet states.

The withdrawal had been put forward by opposition parties who claim the country's CIS membership contradicts Georgia's plans of joining NATO.

Representatives of the ruling party say it would be wrong to pull out at this stage.