“Tomorrow, I will have the opportunity to address the participants on one of the priorities of our chairmanship—ensuring and facilitating connectivity through the parliamentary dimension,” said the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, who will participate in the 66th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Sofia, Bulgaria, as part of his official visit.

Georgia is assuming the chairmanship of PABSEC, and Papuashvili will lead the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation for a six-month term.

Papuashvili also noted that, together with Bulgaria, a major project is planned for the construction of an underwater cable in the Black Sea, which will supply the European Union with green energy, as well as for the installation of a new fibre-optic cable to enhance digital connectivity.

“This is only part of the role that Georgia—and the entire Caucasus region—plays in connecting the European Union and Asia. This will be one of our main priorities, especially considering the current developments. Following the initialling of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the prospects for the region to play a decisive role in linking Europe and Asia have become even stronger,” Papuashvili stated.

Asked by a GPB First Channel journalist about criticism that the opening of the Zangezur Corridor might serve as an alternative route and harm Georgia by diminishing its role within the Middle Corridor, Papuashvili responded that the peace agreement creates new opportunities for the entire region, extending far beyond simple transport functions.

“This is important for fostering competition and creating better conditions for carriers, which will in turn make our corridor even more attractive—competition only enhances that. Secondly, it sends a strong message about regional stability, which will stimulate all types of investment, both in infrastructure around the corridor and across various sectors in the region. Therefore, we welcome this initiative, which will benefit the entire region,” Papuashvili said.