The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, emphasized the importance of peace and regional cooperation during his official visit to Turkey. Speaking to Georgian journalists in Ankara, Papuashvili highlighted that ensuring a safe and calm environment remains a key challenge for the region and a priority for both countries.

“We had a meeting in the Turkish Parliament with the Speaker, representatives of the Friendship Group, and various committees. We discussed issues crucial for the peaceful development and well-being of our nations. Parliamentary diplomacy plays a vital role in addressing these challenges,” Papuashvili stated.

He also underlined the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor for regional economic growth, especially in light of recent flight redirections. “This has once again shown that peace opens opportunities for development, while conflict creates instability,” he noted.

According to Papuashvili, both parliaments are committed to strengthening cooperation. He recalled the trilateral parliamentary format initiated two years ago with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which was postponed due to the 2023 earthquake. “We have now agreed to hold the first trilateral meeting this year, where regional cooperation will be a key topic,” he added.

Additionally, Papuashvili announced that Georgia will soon host a Turkish parliamentary delegation, and a visit by the Georgian Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee to Turkey is scheduled for the fall. These initiatives, he said, are part of the ongoing implementation of the bilateral memorandum of cooperation.

The Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Papuashvili, is visiting Ankara at the invitation of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş.