Georgian Parliament official at OSCE PA: Georgia remains constructive partner, committed to regional connectivity, Europe’s resilience

Maia Bitadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee, on Sunday said Georgia remains a constructive, reliable, and responsible partner, contributing to regional connectivity, sustainable development, and Europe’s economic resilience, while calling for genuine partnership based on respect for sovereignty and democratic choice.

Speaking at the annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in The Hague, Bitadze addressed global and regional challenges, Georgia’s role in the Middle Corridor, and the need for international solidarity rather than division and pressure on sovereign states.

“It is a great honour to address the committee at a time when economic security, energy resilience, and the fight against climate change have become integral parts of peace and security. We face unprecedented challenges in the OSCE region. These include: Russia’s ongoing aggressive war against Ukraine, the continued occupation of 20% of Georgia’s sovereign territory, instability in the Middle East, the growing impact of climate change, and the gradual weakening of respect for international law”, she said.

“This crisis requires greater international solidarity and practical cooperation from us, not division and confrontation. In this context, Georgia remains committed to contributing to the strengthening of Europe’s economic and energy security. Thanks to its strategic location, Georgia has become a reliable bridge between Europe, the South Caucasus, and the Caspian region”, Bitadze continued.

The official emphasised that Georgia, located at a strategic crossroads, was strengthening connectivity through the Middle Corridor and projects such as the Black Sea underwater cable and the Green Energy Corridor.

“The country is strengthening connectivity through the Middle Corridor and facilitating the development of secure trade and energy routes. Projects such as the Black Sea underwater cable and the Green Energy Corridor are not merely infrastructure initiatives. They are strategic investments in Europe’s long-term energy diversification, resilience, and economic development”, she stressed.

The Chair noted that achieving climate resilience requires political stability and mutual trust, and expressed regret that some political forces and bureaucratic circles continue to deepen polarisation in Georgia.

“Achieving climate resilience is impossible without political stability, mutual trust, and respect for international commitments. Therefore, it is particularly regrettable that while our common attention should be directed toward solving these global and regional challenges, some political forces and bureaucratic circles continue to try to deepen political polarisation in Georgia, exert pressure on the democratically elected government, and, most importantly, fail to respect the sovereign democratic choice of the Georgian people”, Bitadze noted.

She stressed that such approaches undermine trust in international institutions and called for respect for sovereignty and the democratic will of nations.

“Such approaches neither strengthen democracy nor international cooperation. On the contrary, they undermine trust in international institutions, including the OSCE, and increase the risk of scepticism and nihilism among Georgian citizens toward organisations whose mission is to promote dialogue, mutual respect, and equal partnership”, the Chair said.

Concluding her speech, Bitadze reaffirmed Georgia's commitment to constructive international engagement.

“Georgia remains a constructive, reliable, and responsible partner. We will continue to contribute to regional connectivity, sustainable development, and the strengthening of Europe’s economic resilience. At the same time, we firmly believe that genuine partnership must be based on respect for sovereignty, equal treatment of states, and unwavering respect for the democratic choice of every nation”, she concluded.