Georgian Parliament Speaker addresses Global Speakers' Conference in Geneva

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, delivered a speech at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, during the panel discussion titled "Innovations for a Peaceful Future: Defining New Solutions."

“Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia belongs to a region long marked by tension and instability, and we continue to face persistent challenges in achieving peace. Despite our experiences with war and occupation, we have chosen the path of peace, reform, democratic development, and innovation,” Papuashvili stated.

He emphasized that the Georgian government remains firmly committed to restoring the country’s territorial integrity exclusively through peaceful means and is focused on reconciliation and the inclusion of communities affected by conflict.

According to Papuashvili, peace initiatives are gradually building trust, which he called the first essential component of lasting peace.

“We believe that strong democratic institutions are a vital safeguard against instability, and we have taken significant steps in this direction,” he said.

Papuashvili warned that today’s threats to peace extend beyond wars and conflicts, encompassing serious challenges such as violations of national sovereignty and interference in internal affairs.

“In Georgia, we have witnessed the consequences of a lack of transparency in foreign funding, aimed at infiltrating foreign interests into political parties and NGOs, encouraging unrest, and supporting violent demonstrations to overthrow a democratically elected government,” he added.

He underlined that lasting peace must be democratic and grounded in transparency, accountability, and justice. Peace, he said, is not only the absence of military conflict, but also the presence of respect for sovereignty, national interests, culture, and traditions.

“It is paradoxical that traditional values such as sovereignty, independence, and democracy are now considered the greatest innovations,” Papuashvili noted.

He concluded by reaffirming Georgia’s readiness to cooperate on any initiative aimed at building a future where peace, sovereignty, and democracy are shared and respected realities.

The information was shared by the Parliament’s press office.