Parliament adopts foreign policy resolution
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Wednesday, December 30
The Parliament of Georgia discussed the draft resolution on foreign policy at the plenary session of the extraordinary session and adopted it unanimously with 81 votes.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, presented the issue for discussion. According to him, this resolution is based on the choice made by the Georgian people and Article 78 of the Constitution, which instructs all branches of government to work for Georgia's accession to the European Union and NATO.
The document, adopted by the new parliament on December 25, is based on resolutions adopted in 2013 and 2016 and identifies 16 priority areas, including de-occupation and the peaceful restoration of territorial integrity as the country's main foreign policy goals.
According to the resolution, joining the EU is a priority that has no alternative and which provides for the preparation of an institutional and legal framework for applying for full membership in the EU in 2024. Another priority of the document is NATO membership, including maintaining defense capabilities and improving compatibility with the Alliance, which provides strategic readiness for membership, in line with the decision of the 2008 Bucharest Summit.
The document focuses on deepening relations with the United States as a strategic partner and ally of the country, in particular by increasing US involvement in the Black Sea region and concluding a free trade agreement with it.
As for the Black Sea region, Georgia intends to maintain peace, security and stability and to deepen socio-economic and cultural relations, including strategic partnerships with Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as good neighborly and friendly relations with Armenia and to fully realize potential relations with Bulgaria, Romania and the Ukraine.
In terms of relations with Russia, the document states that Georgia will continue to pursue a "pragmatic and principled policy" with the Russian Federation, the main task of which is to de-occupy Georgian territory and strengthen peace, security and stability in the region.
According to the resolution, one of the main tasks of the country will be to minimize conventional and hybrid threats from Russia using international mechanisms. In addition, Georgia will continue to work actively on international disputes against the Russian Federation until final success is achieved.
According to the document, Georgia, in cooperation with international partners and organizations, will continue to contribute to international security and stability by participating in peacekeeping missions, achieving sustainable development goals and tackling global challenges, including climate change and pandemics.
The resolution also provides for the promotion of European security with Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Baltic states and the Visegrad Group countries.
Among the foreign policy priorities are also the strengthening of bilateral relations with Israel, China, Japan, South Korea and India, focusing on working in multilateral formats and protecting the rights and interests of Georgian citizens abroad.
