“I had the opportunity to meet with the Speakers of the parliaments of Malta and Montenegro, our host country. I held discussions on bilateral relations, as well as, naturally, on regional matters and the challenges that are today common to the world at large,” said Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, speaking to journalists during his visit to Montenegro.

He added that he had also discussed the shared aspirations held by these countries.

“Beyond that, I had the opportunity to address the Assembly in my capacity as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, and to speak to issues concerning the growing importance of regional groupings.

In today’s world, we are witnessing a decline in the influence of organisations operating globally. In practical terms, they are increasingly unable to play a significant role in resolving various types of conflicts. At such a time, regional cooperation becomes all the more important, such as that embodied by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea. We will therefore be strengthening cooperation between these two assemblies,” Papuashvili stated.

He further announced that the Georgian Parliament will be applying to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) for observer status.

“I also held talks with the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, and we agreed that the Georgian Parliament will formally apply to the Assembly for observer status, which will afford us the opportunity of having more systematic engagement with the Assembly. The Mediterranean and its member states are of decisive importance for European security and, accordingly, for Georgia’s security as well. This implies a greater capacity for involvement in the Assembly’s work. We are making use of every opportunity to be represented in regional assemblies where our national interests can be articulated and advanced.

In addition to our membership of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, we also hold observer membership of the Parliamentary Assembly of South-East Asia. We likewise have the desire to become an observer member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.

Assemblies are an excellent vehicle through which we can make our voice and our national interests, beginning with support for the non-recognition policy, through to the political interests of the Georgian people in defending themselves against external interference, heard. In this regard, it has been highly valuable to engage in discussions with colleagues and fellow parliamentarians from various countries on how to address hybrid challenges in the twenty-first century. This is especially important at a time when information warfare, interference in the internal affairs of other states, and efforts to influence societies have increased substantially.

We therefore intend to submit our formal application for observer status. We were fortunate to secure advance expressions of support from the Speakers of the parliaments of Malta, Montenegro, and others,” Papuashvili stated.