Georgia becomes member of Permanent Court of Arbitration

Georgia will soon become a member of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and work has already begun to prepare the country for this vital role.

This opportunity was discussed at today’s meeting between Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and PCA Secretary-General Hugo Hans Siblesz.

Panjikidze thanked the Secretary-General for his support in Georgia’s ambition to become a PAC member, while Siblesz expressed his hope that Parliament of Georgia would take positive steps to ensure the country was ready for the role.

"Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze told me that the bill relevant to the Permanent Court of Arbitration has been presented to the Georgian Parliament and hopefully the parliament will make a positive decision by the end of this year,” Siblesz stated.

"Georgia will become the 117th member state of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and as such, a member of the community of nations that subscribe to the rule of law specifically in the form of being also responsible for the governance of this institution.”

He said Georgia as a future member state, together with other member states, would become responsible for the functioning of the institution.

"I am looking forward to welcoming a Georgian representative to the Peace Palace in The Hague," the Secretary-General said.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The PCA encourages the resolution of disputes that involve states, state entities, intergovernmental organizations, and private parties by assisting in the establishment of arbitration tribunals and facilitating their work.