Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko takes over chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States in January, and promises to go far to bring Georgia back into the organization. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch — The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko says he is prepared to beg on his knees for the Georgian government to return the country to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Lukashenko said this in Minsk on Tuesday during a meeting with members of the Club of Editors of CIS countries, the Baltic States and Georgia, within the framework of the Forum of European and Asian Media.

The background is that he is taking over the chairmanship of the organization, which was established after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

“We will from the first of January chair the CIS, we are waiting for you [Georgia]. I will come to you, and I will stand on my knees, but not in public. Well, if you will, for its sake, then in public. And I will ask you to return to CIS,” Ria Novosti quotes him saying.

The Belarusian president said Russia would be happy if Georgia rejoined CIS. He said if the country returns then all members will find solutions to all problems, if only Georgian politicians want it.

After the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008, President Saakashvili withdrew Georgia’s membership in CIS and received backing for the decision in parliament.