UPDATE: Speaker Papuashvili Visits Central Asia

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili is in Central Asia on an official visit that will last until April 13, the Parliament announced on April 7. He is scheduled to meet with high-ranking officials from the executive and legislative branches of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

Meetings in Uzbekistan

Speaker Papuashvili has met with Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan and Nurdinjon Ismoilov, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan.

According to the Parliament of Georgia, Speaker Papuashvili and Chairperson Narbaeva discussed “friendly bilateral relations” and “expressed their readiness to further develop cooperation between the legislative bodies…The Uzbek side also expressed its willingness to cooperate in the field of regional policy.”

“Shalva Papuashvili emphasized the growing importance of the “Middle Corridor”. According to him, the development of transit and transportation potential of this corridor is in the interest of both countries,” the Georgian Parliament said.

As for the meeting with Speaker Ismoilov, the parties discussed the bilateral relations including in the trade and energy fields. The sides agreed to strengthen Parliamentary ties based on the Memorandum of Cooperation, and among other things, emphasized the issue of opening the Uzbekistan Embassy in Georgia.

Speaker Papuashvili thanked the Uzbek side for their “firm support” for Georgia’s territorial integrity. He also invited Speaker Ismoilov to Georgia.

“Economic & political ties between Georgia and Uzbekistan are strong. We stand ready to enhance our Parliamentary partnership, including friendship groups, sectoral committees and also, cooperate in the frames of international Parliamentary platforms,” Speaker Papuashvili tweeted after the meeting with the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan.

Meetings in Turkmenistan

On April 9, Speaker Papuashvili held the meeting with the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow, with the parties highlighting the bilateral cooperation and “the enduring friendly relations.” According to the Parliament of Georgia, “special attention was given to the significance of trade, economic, and transport-logistics cooperation, as well as the advancement of joint regional projects.”

Speaker Papuashvili thanked the President of Turkmenistan for the decision to unveil the monument of a Georgian writer Shota Rustaveli in Ashgabat. “In turn, Serdar Berdimuhamedow reiterated unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Parliament of Georgia reported.

“We highly appreciate Turkmenistan’s support towards Georgia’s territorial integrity. We are committed to bolstering Georgia-Turkmenistan bonds in economy, tourism, transport and energy in the best interests of our nations in the decades to come,” Speaker Papuashvili tweeted.

On the same day, Speaker Papuashvili also met with the Speaker of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, Dünýägözel Gulmanowa and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Raşit Meredow.

“Determined to nourish our bilateral relations via parliamentary diplomacy and experience sharing, including via friendship groups, sectoral committees and international parliamentary platforms,” Speaker Papuashvili tweeted following the meeting with Speaker Gulmanowa.

According to the Parliament of Georgia, “to foster the sharing of reforms and best practices, a planned visit of the parliamentary delegation of Turkmenistan to Georgia in April-May of this year was agreed upon.”

As for the meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the parties positively evaluated the bilateral “political-level” relations. “Rashid Meredov expressed gratitude to the Georgian side for their support of Turkmenistan on international platforms and reaffirmed strong support for Georgia’s territorial integrity,” the Georgian legislature reported.

“Special attention was directed towards cooperation within international transport-transit corridors, notably the “Lapis-Lazuli” and “Black Sea – Caspian Sea” transport routes. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the Black Sea submarine cable project, where Georgia is expected to play a pivotal strategic role according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” the Georgian Parliament added.

Meetings in Kazakhstan

On April 12, Speaker Papuashvili met with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament thanked the Kazakhstan President for “warm welcome,” and “expressed gratitude for Kazakhstan’s support to Georgia’s territorial integrity.” “[We] discussed bilateral partnership in trade, economy, agriculture, transportation, culture and tourism. We highly value friendship between Georgia and Kazakhstan grounded in historically friendly ties between our nations,” Speaker Papuashvili tweeted. During the meeting, “the emphasis was placed on the intense role and potential of the middle corridor,” the Parliament of Georgia reported.

Speaker Papuashvili also met with Mäulen Äşimbaev, Chairman of the Kazakhstan’s Senate. “Our countries are important trade partners. We stand ready to bolster our partnership on parl. level, as well as in economy, investments, regional development, transport, energy, culture & education. Looking forward to hosting my colleague in Georgia,” the Georgia Parliament Speaker wrote following the meeting.

On April 11, Speaker Papuashvili held a meeting with the Chairman of the Mäjilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Qoşanov. The parties underscored “historically close” ties between the peoples of the both countries. Speaker Papuashvili thanked the Kazakh side for its support of Georgia’s territorial integrity and conveyed his condolences over the ongoing disaster in Kazakhstan, offering support in managing the crisis, according to the Parliament of Georgia.

During the meeting, “special emphasis was placed on collaboration to leverage the transport and transit potential of the Middle Corridor,” the Georgian Parliament reported.

“Discussed a wide range of cooperation issues, including trade-economy, agriculture, transportation, tourism, culture, parliamentary activities, exchange of best experiences in reforms. First official bilateral visit of the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia shall greatly contribute to development of Georgia-Kazakhstan bonds,” Speaker Papuashvili tweeted.

This article was updated on 11.04.2024 at 11:56 to reflect Speaker Papuashvili’s meetings in Turkmenistan, and at 15:54 to reflect his visit to Kazakhstan, and on 16.04.2024 at 14:30 to cover the Georgian Parliament Speaker’s meetings with the President of Kazakhstan and the Speaker of the Kazakhstan Senate.

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