“I would like to congratulate and encourage Georgia for taking the necessary steps towards EU membership, we support this, and I would like to praise the parliamentary work and express my support for the reforms you are carrying out,” said Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the Georgian parliament following the meeting with Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

At the joint briefing with Pia Kauma, the Speaker noted that Georgia productively and successfully cooperated with the OSCE PA for years, which is a platform facilitating interparliamentary dialogue.

“Against the background of the current complicated geopolitical situation, OSCE encounters numerous challenges as an organization as a result of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. I affirm the commitment of Georgia to facilitate effective functioning of the organization on the basis of the values, around which it has been established,” the Speaker stated.

Shalva Papuashvili informed that the parties deliberated on the cooperation of Georgia with OSCE PA, the developments in the region, the grave situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and the EU candidate status for Georgia.

“We highly value the efforts of the OSCE PA to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in the region. We underlined our commitment to further cooperating for ensuring regional peace and stability”, said Shalva Papuashvili, adding that the discourse included the Parliamentary Elections of 2024 in Georgia.

“I informed Mme. Kauma about the novelties associated with the electoral process and reaffirmed the commitment of Georgia to remain devoted to the years-long tradition of holding free, transparent and fair elections. We hope that our colleagues from the OSCE PA will as well observe our Parliamentary Elections in 2024. I express my gratitude to Mme. Kauma and her accompanying delegation for visiting Georgia and very interesting meeting. We aspire to keep our cooperation for the enhancement of peace, security and democracy”, he stated.