Parliament committee chair hails “pragmatic, consistent” foreign policy of gov’t
Samkharadze claimed Georgia was the "last democratic country in the post-Soviet space” and “fast approaching" integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, a development he said “clearly contradicts the interests of the Russian government”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee chair, on Thursday said the Georgian government was “efficiently” implementing a “pragmatic and consistent” foreign policy despite challenges, and maintaining “peace, stability and a trend of sustainable development” as a result.
In his remarks at a plenary meeting of the parliament following the address of the foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Samkharadze noted this year was “particularly challenging” for diplomacy, as the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine was “particularly dangerous” for countries like Georgia.
The ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine turned the entire international system upside down and put both Georgia and the whole world in front of challenges. Unfortunately, we are well aware that even with a small Russian success in Ukraine, Georgia may become Russia’s next target”, the parliament official said.
Samkharadze claimed Georgia was the "last democratic country in the post-Soviet space” and “fast approaching" integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, a development he said “clearly contradicts the interests of the Russian government”.
Unfortunately, when the consolidation of the public around national interests was most needed [...] since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, various groups, including [domestic] opposition parties, acted only in their narrow political interests and tried to hinder the Georgian government in this difficult situation”, Samkharadze continued.
He also noted that on the backdrop of the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, Georgia’s foreign policy was of “crucial importance”, as without “close cooperation” with partners, it would be “impossible” to deal with all the challenges that Georgia, Europe and the Black Sea region were facing.
We should not forget that our region is facing particular threats. Despite so many challenges when small states struggle to survive, we still manage to continue the country's sustainable development, maintain peace and stability, and move towards our European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations”, Samkharadze concluded.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the foreign ministry had taken “all the relevant” diplomatic steps regarding the visit of Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko to Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region in September.
The Georgian government would like to see more United States involvement in the Black Sea and South Caucasus regions, given the “common interests” of the two countries, Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Thursday.
Georgia’s “proper representation” at the NATO summit in Vilnius next year will be an “important message” for both the country and the international community, foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili said in his address to the parliament on Thursday.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darcvhiashvili on Thursday said his government was “successfully managing” to deal with “external threats” and continued to implement its “main foreign priorities” despite the “most difficult” international environment.
Deepening the existing relations between Georgia and South Africa, including at the parliamentary level, was discussed on Friday in a meeting between Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee chair, and Alvin Botes, South African deputy minister of international relations and cooperation.
Irakli Beraia, the head of the defense and security committee of the Georgian parliament, on Friday met representatives of NATO partnerships and cooperative security committee. Photo: parliament press office
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the chair of the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee, on Tuesday led a public lecture at the Netherlands’ Leiden University on the topics of the new world order and European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia, as part of his visit to the country.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the chair of the Georgian parliament's foreign affairs committee, on Wednesday said there would be no normalisation of relations with Russia until the occupation troops are withdrawn from Georgian territory and the Kremlin recognises Georgia’s territorial integrity.
Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Thursday visited the line in central Georgia’s village of Odzisi that separates the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country, and were briefed on Russia’s occupation efforts along the administrative divide.