Shalva Papuashvili: Georgia and Türkiye bound by strategic partnership and readiness for open dialogue

“I extend my warmest congratulations to the Turkish people on this historic occasion of Republic Day and wish them peace, prosperity, and continued success,” declared Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, during his address at a ceremony commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye.

Papuashvili emphasised that a deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership bind Georgia and Türkiye.

“Our nations have achieved remarkable progress in our bilateral relations. For us, true friendship and strategic partnership imply a constant readiness for open, constructive dialogue, discussing common challenges openly and sincerely, and reaching compromises. We enter into this dialogue with profound respect for each other’s sovereignty and national interests. This approach underpins our mutual respect, firm trust and long-term cooperation.

Regrettably, we increasingly witness a readiness for confrontation rather than dialogue in today’s world. Against a backdrop of a complex and fraught geopolitical landscape, where dialogue ought to serve as the primary instrument to address challenges, polarisation between nations is deepening, and confrontation is being encouraged at the expense of consensus. The crisis of trust is worsening, rendering peaceful, mutually beneficial solutions ever more elusive.

At a time when genuine peacemakers are a rarity on the global political stage, the role of the President of Türkiye, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is particularly noteworthy. Türkiye has remained steadfast in its primary goal: the pursuit of peace. Türkiye’s peace initiatives show how crucial it is to foster a space for dialogue, particularly when trust among actors responsible for global security has hit an all-time low.

Peacemaking is not a sign of weakness; it is an expression of political wisdom and courage. Peace demands responsibility and dialogue. Today, as trust in international relations continues to erode, efforts to champion peace deserve special recognition. As Georgia marks 1,700 years of Christian statehood this year, I am reminded of the Gospel beatitude: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God,’” Papuashvili noted.

The Speaker also underscored the paramount importance of stability in the South Caucasus as a key prerequisite for the broader development of the Black Sea region.

“The development of the Middle Corridor, the strengthening of transport links, and the creation of new economic opportunities are of vital importance for regional peace and progress.

“The parliaments of Georgia and Türkiye are at the forefront of these efforts. This year, I met my colleague, Mr Numan Kurtulmuş, at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Istanbul. Our meetings are always marked by friendly, open and productive dialogue and by joint efforts to find new avenues for cooperation and partnership. Through parliamentary diplomacy, we, the speakers, friendship groups and fellow MPs, are working to deepen institutional ties between our legislatures. We will continue to cooperate closely at every level.

I am confident that the friendship between Georgia and Türkiye will continue to flourish, contributing significantly to regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Once again, I congratulate the Turkish people on Republic Day. I firmly believe that our strategic partnership will continue to bring immense benefits to both our nations and our peoples,” Papuashvili concluded.