GEORGIA HITS RUSSIAN DISAPPROVAL OF DIRECT TIES AMONG CIS COUNTRIES.

Georgian foreign minister Irakly Menagarishvili disagrees with the "Moscow government circles’ negative reaction" toward the growing rapprochement among Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine." Russia should welcome the strengthening of direct bilateral relations among CIS countries, Menagarishvili stated at a Tbilisi briefing on President Eduard Shevardnadze recent official visits to Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Such relations are "far more beneficial" than multilateral ones within the CIS, which ignore the countries’ specific interests, Menagarishvili commented. (Interfax, February 24)

Russian President Threatens Cabinet Reshuffle.