Parliament official stresses importance of Black Sea, South Caucasus regions on backdrop of Ukraine war
In his notes for the participants, Samkharadze reviewed challenges in the Black Sea region, threats from Russia, the importance of Georgia as a country promoting “peace and stability” in the South Caucasus, as well as the question of NATO expansion. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, on Thursday said the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine had changed the existing security environment, “further increasing the importance” of the Black Sea and South Caucasus regions.
In the framework of his visit to Slovenia, Samkharadze participated in a round table organised by the leading Slovenian analytical organisation - Centre for European Perspective - dedicated to the role of Georgia in the security of the Black Sea and South Caucasus regions, the Parliament press office said.
In his notes for the participants, Samkharadze reviewed challenges in the Black Sea region, threats from Russia, the importance of Georgia as a country promoting “peace and stability” in the South Caucasus, as well as the question of NATO expansion.
The ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine has changed the existing security environment, which has further increased the importance of the Black Sea and South Caucasus regions. In this process, Georgia has a unique role - on the one hand, to help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian energy resources and to find alternative ways, and on the other hand, to fulfil the function of a country promoting peace and stability in the South Caucasus region”, the Parliament official said.
“This, of course, implies Georgia's involvement and mediation in regulating the tense relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Also, it is important to expand NATO by admitting Georgia, which will further strengthen the guarantees of stability and security in the region”, Samkharadze concluded.
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