Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday delivered a speech at the conference of  Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Prague.

Papuashvili shared a Georgian perspective, saying “Recognition of Georgia’s European perspective last year opened a new chapter in our relationship with the EU as we have embarked on an EU membership road.”

The Speaker underscored that “Georgia remains a reliable partner and a security ally of the EU, and we hope that Georgia’s progress will be duly assessed and properly rewarded.”

Below is his full speech as delivered:

“Already for over a year, we have lived in an increasingly insecure world with an alarming security challenge raised by Russia’s brutal and unlawful invasion of Ukraine. Our unified stance in solidarity with Ukraine is crucial to achieve the just peace for Ukraine.

This war has once again demonstrated the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting cooperation between countries to address common challenges. I am glad to see my colleague and friend, Mr. Ruslan Stefanchuk, participating in this important event.

I would like to, once again, reiterate Georgia’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is firm and irreversible.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We understand Ukraine’s pain and suffering. Georgia has experienced Russian aggression throughout the early 1990s and, then again, in 2008. This continuous aggression resulted in the occupation of two Georgian regions and forceful and illegal expelling of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Unfortunately, at that time, despite our appeals and warnings, we did not receive adequate response from the West.

Fortunately, nowadays, we see a strong, united, and effective European response to Russia’s aggressive actions.

Georgia has demonstrated solidarity with Ukraine not only in words, but also with strong political and diplomatic steps. This has taken place against the background of occupation of Georgian territories as well as Russia’s illegal military presence on the territory of Georgia, only a few miles away from Tbilisi.

Georgia faces high risks of possible military escalation, while being not protected by NATO security umbrella and not enjoying EU’s economic solidarity. And yet, Georgia has actively used its one vote on international fora in support of Ukraine. We have also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens, legally treating them like hundreds of thousands of our own, Georgia’s internally displaced persons (IDPs). We launched Ukrainian-language sectors in Georgian schools.

Dear friends,

This is a time when the EU should fully realize its role as a geopolitical player and support sovereign choices of countries historically belonging to the European family. Recognition of Georgia’s European perspective last year opened a new chapter in our relationship with the EU as we have embarked on an EU membership road.

Georgia remains a reliable partner and a security ally of the EU, and we hope that Georgia’s progress will be duly assessed and properly rewarded. Last year, Georgia was left without the candidate status, thus being separated from the Associated Trio. Now, it is critically important to avoid similar negative differentiation any longer this year, as such differentiation risks empowering our common ill-wishers and leaving the region vis-à-vis the aggressor unprotected.

Georgia is not only recipient of European security and economic benefits, as a partner country, but also increasingly contributes to the European cause, including by providing essential support to EU’s CSDP missions in Africa.

Now, Georgia is a critical and essential part of the so-called “Middle Corridor” that might serve as the safest and shortest route for alternative energy supplies to European homes.

We stand ready to continue working with the EU on enhancing connectivity in the Black Sea to open up alternative routes of energy supply, freight transportation and digital connections that will translate into sustainable economic growth and a greater European resilience.

Dear Colleagues,

In current geopolitical situation, times for front doors and open doors are over. In turn, bold steps are needed, coupled with strategic decision. Georgia has learnt lessons from the past. I hope the EU will fully reassess its role and importance too. These steps and decisions will play an important role in shaping future European architecture.

I hope that by the end of this year we will celebrate Ukraine’s victory and restoration of territorial integrity but also, for Georgia, an EU candidate status and starting accession negotiations as another historic step in extending Europe’s stabilizing security and economic effect in the wider region.”