Georgian Parliament Chair holds talks with Speaker of Slovakia’s National Council

The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, met with the President of Slovakia’s National Council, Richard Raši.

The two officials recalled their bilateral meeting in Geneva in July 2025 and conveyed optimism about furthering the dialogue during the inaugural official visit of the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament to Slovakia.

Papuashvili expressed gratitude to the Slovak side for its steadfast support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It was acknowledged that relations between Georgia and Slovakia are progressing successfully, a trend reflected in the increasing frequency of high-level visits.

The discussion centred on further strengthening parliamentary ties, emphasising the importance of expanding cooperation between the administrations and sectoral committees of both parliaments. There was also a shared commitment to enhance collaboration on youth affairs.

Additionally, the parties explored cooperation in trade, economics, tourism, education, and culture. The upcoming launch of direct flights from Kutaisi to Bratislava, scheduled for January 2026, was seen as a positive development.

Raši noted Slovakia’s decision to facilitate the monthly celebration of the liturgy in Georgian within the Slovak Orthodox Church. He also highlighted Georgia’s transit potential and stressed the importance of deepening cooperation in the energy and transport sectors.

The conversation also touched on Georgia’s relations with the European Union. Papuashvili affirmed that Georgia is successfully fulfilling its obligations under the Association Agreement and reiterated the country’s openness to ongoing dialogue with the EU.

Raši reaffirmed Slovakia’s support for Georgia’s European integration and expressed Slovakia’s willingness to share its experience.

This meeting took place within the framework of Shalva Papuashvili’s official visit to Slovakia. The Georgian parliamentary delegation included Deputy Speaker Ilia Injia, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Education, Science, and Youth Affairs Committee Mariam Lashkhi, and Rima Beradze, a member of both the committee and the parliamentary friendship group.