Speaker of the Georgian Parliament extended his "heartfelt congratulations" to the Turkish people on the occasion of the country`s Republic Day, wishing them peace, prosperity, and continued success.

Addressing an event marking the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, Shalva Papuashvili noted that Georgia and Türkiye were bound by longstanding friendship and a strategic partnership.

"Our countries have made impressive progress in their bilateral relations. For us, true friendship and partnership entail a constant readiness for open and constructive dialogue, sincere discussions of shared challenges, and a willingness to reach compromises.

We engage in this dialogue with respect for each other’s sovereignty and national interests. It is precisely this approach that lays the foundation for mutual respect, strong trust, and long-term cooperation. Unfortunately, in today’s world, we see a greater willingness to engage in confrontation than in dialogue.

Against the backdrop of a complex and tense geopolitical situation, at a time when dialogue should be the primary means of addressing challenges, polarisation between nations is deepening, and confrontation is being encouraged instead of efforts to reach consensus. The crisis of trust continues to deepen, while achieving peaceful and mutually beneficial solutions is becoming increasingly difficult.

Today, at a time when leaders genuinely committed to peacemaking are rarely seen on the global political stage, the role of the President of Türkiye, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stands out as exceptional. Türkiye has remained committed to its primary objective - the pursuit of peace. Türkiye`s peace initiatives underscore the vital importance of creating the right conditions for dialogue, particularly when trust among the political actors responsible for ensuring global security is extremely low.

Peacemaking is not a sign of weakness; it is an expression of political wisdom and courage.

Peace requires responsibility and dialogue. Today, as trust in international relations continues to erode, efforts to promote peace deserve special recognition.

This year, Georgia marks the 1,700th anniversary of its Christian statehood. Therefore, I would like to recall the words of the Gospel: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God”. The development of the Middle Corridor, the strengthening of transport links, and the creation of new economic opportunities are of particular importance for peace and development. The parliaments of Georgia and Türkiye are at the forefront of these efforts.

This year, in Istanbul, on the sidelines of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, I met with my colleague, Mr Numan Kurtulmuş. Our meetings are always characterised by friendly, open, and productive dialogue, as well as joint efforts to identify new avenues for cooperation and partnership.

Through parliamentary diplomacy, we, as Speakers of Parliament, members of friendship groups, and fellow parliamentarians, are working to further strengthen institutional ties between our legislative bodies. We will continue our close cooperation at all levels.

Once again, I congratulate the Turkish people on Republic Day. I am confident that the strategic partnership between Georgia and Türkiye will bring further benefits to our countries and peoples", - said Shalva Papuashvili.