Parliament speaker meets OSCE parliamentary assembly president in Tbilisi

The speaker of Georgia’s parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, has met the president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, during the latter’s visit to Georgia.

Papuashvili welcomed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president and the accompanying delegation, expressing gratitude for their readiness to maintain open and constructive dialogue, the parliamentary press service said. 

He also stressed the importance of an “objective report” by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) regarding Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections.

Papuashvili said Georgia remained a committed and active member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and will continue supporting the organisation’s activities.

Pons Sampietro said the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly served as a common platform for dialogue and stressed the importance of the organisation maintaining its relevance and effectiveness in what he described as a world facing numerous challenges.

He added that the delegation’s visit to Georgia began with a trip to the occupation line, reaffirming strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two sides also discussed political developments in Georgia in recent years and the legislative work of parliament. Papuashvili said the Georgian parliament adopted laws in response to developments in the country and was actively working to protect Georgian democracy.

He also reaffirmed Georgia’s readiness to continue implementing recommendations issued by the OSCE/ODIHR. In this context, he referred to the adoption of a new electoral code by parliament last year.

Both sides confirmed their willingness to continue dialogue.