Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday addressed the members of the Senate of Romania.

Below is his full speech:

“I feel honored to visit the Senate of Romania, one of the greatest friendly nations of our country, and speak before you on Georgian-Romanian relations, regional security challenges, and Georgia’s European choice. I very much value the opportunity to visit your beautiful country in these geopolitically turbulent times, when the world witnesses unprecedented regional upheaval since the Cold War and, at the same time, in the historic period when Georgia makes its decisive push on its EU membership path. Romania and Georgia share not only historical ties but also a common thread of cultural richness that has endured for centuries, emanating from our strong Christian heritage.

It is in moments like these that I am reminded of the great Anthim the Iberian, a figure who transcended borders and whose legacy continues to inspire us all to this day. He laid strong emotional and historic foundations for our nations’ relationship, which now blossoms in mutual strategic understanding and cooperation. Nowadays our countries successfully cooperate in multiple directions including economy, tourism, culture, defense and cyber security, fight against crime and others. Romania has been a staunch supporter of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Romania also regularly demonstrates support towards and is a leading voice for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Romania was the first member state of the European Union to ratify the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. We are deeply grateful for each step and statement of the Romanian side in support of Georgia. Such substantial aspects of our relations allowed us to elevate our longstanding and solid ties to a strategic partnership that brings our countries and peoples even closer than ever before. Our partnership has gained more relevance and depth along with Russia’s unjustified, illegal, and aggressive war in Ukraine. Our countries border on the Black Sea and the regional security of this part of the world takes the center stage of not only European but also the world security. The Black Sea regional security is now a historic challenge and we have to work together, with our Western allies to ensure stability and lasting peace in this complicated area. Also, the Black Sea is an area of opportunities. It has a strategic importance in terms of connectivity and energy security of Europe.

The historic Silk Road, or as we often call it a “Middle Corridor”, is a shortest and cheapest transit route between Europe and Asia. Georgia is doing its best to enhance its role as a logistic center and hub for doing business in the region. We are committed to participate actively in major strategic projects and initiatives to contribute to strengthening Europe’s energy independence. Launching a new ferry service linking the port of Constanta in Romania with Poti in Georgia is a great example demonstrating our efforts to enhance Black Sea connectivity. Moreover, we believe that flagship project – Black Sea Submarine Electricity Cable has also a paramount potential to help the EU diversify its energy resources and promote clean energy transition.

Our efforts to reinvigorate the historic Silk Road already brought results to Georgia – double-digit growth during last two years; historically low unemployment rate; peaking foreign direct investments, mostly from the western European countries; doubling the trade since 2020, including in exports; booming tourism; increased exchanges in port, railway and airport infrastructure. The Silk Road has a potential to bring more prosperity and well-being to all families of its members too, including here in Romania, on the other side of the Black Sea and a crucial link of the Road. Ladies and gentlemen, We stand ready to utilize parliamentary diplomacy to boost our strategic partnership and fill it in with activities on the parliamentary level. With development of democratic institutions worldwide, the Parliaments take greater significance in international diplomatic relations.

We are committed to enhancing bonds between our legislative bodies on the level of Speakers, friendship groups and committees. We believe that regular meaningful exchange will allow us to achieve tangible results. Experience of Romania on its EU and NATO membership paths is crucial for us and exchange on these issues will be highly appreciated. Dear colleagues, Besides demonstrating my strong personal commitment towards strengthening Georgian-Romanian bilateral relations, I am here to convey the message and kind request to you to continue supporting Georgia politically and practically to help my country successfully move forward to the next phases of the EU accession.

This is a time when the EU should fully realize its role as a geopolitical player and support sovereign choices of countries historically belonging to the European family. Recognition of Georgia’s European Perspective last year opened a new chapter in our relationship with the EU as we have embarked on an EU membership road. But now it’s high time to make another strategic decision and grant Georgia a candidate status and start EU accession negotiations with Georgia along with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Georgia has taken huge steps to implement EU’s 12 recommendations and we hope that Georgia’s progress will be duly assessed and properly rewarded.

Now, it is critically important to avoid negative differentiation of Georgia from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine any longer as such differentiation risks empowering our common ill-wishers and leaving the region vis-à-vis the aggressor unprotected. Much like with Romanian leadership regarding the ratification of EU-Georgia Association Agreement, I would like to kindly ask my Romanian partners to once again lead this historic process of granting Georgia the EU candidate status.

Ladies and gentlemen, Georgia is not only recipient of European security and economic benefits, as a partner country, but also increasingly contributes to the European and global cause, including by providing essential support to EU’s CSDP missions in Africa or NATO’s operations across the globe. Moreover, as a critical and essential part of the “Middle Corridor”, Georgia has served as a reliable and effective route for providing alternative energy supplies to European, including Romanian, homes. Therefore, Georgia too has much to offer to promote greater European resilience.

And finally, I would like to express my immense gratitude to President Ciucă and all of you for this unique opportunity to speak before you in this magnificent place. As I stand here, I feel the warmth of your hospitality, the richness of your culture, and the shared values that connect our two nations. It is a feeling that goes beyond diplomacy, a feeling that I am indeed at home, among friends and kindred spirits.

Dear friends, let us seize this moment to deepen our bonds, to celebrate our shared heritage, and to continue building a common European future together. May the spirit and legacy of Anthim the Iberian guide us in our endeavors, reminding us that when we come together, there is no try we cannot ground.”