Parliament Speaker highlights “special importance” of Georgian-Romanian partnership to ensure Black Sea connectivity
The officials also reviewed Georgia’s progress on the EU and NATO membership paths and highlighted the importance of the next strategic decisions to advance Georgia on the road. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who is on an official visit to Romania, on Monday highlighted the “special importance” of Georgian-Romanian partnership for ensuring Black Sea connectivity and “bolstering” European resilience and energy independence during the current “challenging” times.
In his remarks at a meeting with Nicolae Ciucă, the Romanian Senate President, Papuashvili expressed his “deep” gratitude towards Romania for its “firm and irreversible” support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as for the country’s EU and NATO membership bids.
I very much value the opportunity to visit Romania, Georgia’s neighbour by the Black Sea, in these geopolitically turbulent times, when the world is witnessing unprecedented regional upheaval since the Cold War and, at the same time, in the historic period when Georgia makes its decisive push on its EU membership path”, Papuashvili said.
“Friendship between our countries took origin centuries ago and is based on cultural values emanating from our strong common Christian heritage. These shared values have later transformed into a strategic partnership that encompasses all dimensions of mutual interest, including the parliamentary level, with a special focus on contacts between friendship groups and sectoral committees. We expressed our readiness and commitment to further boosting ties between our legislative bodies”, he continued.
Fruitful meeting with @NicolaeCiuca, President of the #Romanian Senate. Talked about ????????-???????? strategic partnership, parliamentary cooperation, Black Sea security & connectivity and ????????'s #EU & #NATO membership. Glad to receive ????????'s full support for ????????'s European choice. pic.twitter.com/aS9jjulqd2
— Shalva Papuashvili ???????? (@shpapuashvili) September 25, 2023
The chief Georgian legislator added the two countries had recently signed a Joint Declaration of the Senate of Romania and the Parliament of Georgia that would bring “positive” results to both countries.
We highlighted a special importance of Georgia-Romanian partnership to ensure the Black Sea connectivity to bolster European resilience and energy independence during current challenging times. The flagship project of the Black Sea submarine electricity cable is a great example having paramount potential to help the EU, including Romania, diversify its energy resources and promote clean energy transition”, Papuashvili noted.
The officials also reviewed Georgia’s progress on the EU and NATO membership paths and highlighted the importance of the next strategic decisions to advance Georgia on the road.
Romania has been a leading voice supporting Georgia’s European future, and now we expect similar leadership in support of Georgia similar to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. It would assist us and the entire region to successfully tackle the geopolitical shadows of the past and firmly embark on the European future”, the Georgian official said.
Papuashvili also noted he “highly appreciated each step and statement” of the Romanian Government in support of Georgia.