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Produced by Xinhua Global Service

"Your Excellencies, I would like to express my gratitude to you for your efforts, for standing in for Georgia throughout the world and defending our country's interests. Think upon the Parliament as your ally” - the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, H.E. Shalva Papuashvili stated at the opening of the Ambassadors Conference 2022.
The Speaker gave a welcome speech to the attendees of the annual convention of Georgia's diplomatic missions overseas. The Speaker focused on the security environment, regional and global concerns, and Georgia's foreign policy priorities. He claimed that 2022 was a challenging year for international relations and that it was in this challenging environment that Georgia had to focus on preserving its borders, growing its alliances, and fostering regional stability, security, and prosperity.

The Speaker focused on the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and the efforts made by the state on this path. Shalva Papuashvili thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the heads of Georgian diplomatic missions abroad for their work.

"The relationship between Georgia and the EU in 2022 will go down in history. The European perspective that is acknowledged by the European Union has securely sealed for the future Georgia's long-cherished sovereignty and independence, which is the legacy of our ancestors and generations. The state was well-prepared to take on this challenge. The entire nation got engaged after the application for EU membership was submitted. We were able to independently complete the membership application in the least amount of time possible because state agencies and civil employees operated at the highest level. We carry out the EU's proposals with the same level of accountability. We made a significant effort, analyzing the legislative frameworks and practices of Georgia and other nations, initiating, debating, and adopting essential amendments with the help of the Georgian Parliament, state institutions, and civil society. In 2022, the Georgian Parliament passed 30% of the laws necessary to implement the EU's recommendations. We will conclude a number of documents at the spring session, including the draft laws that were given to the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for review. We anticipate that the European Union will recognize this work in a proper manner", - Shalva Papuashvili remarked.

On 16 December, the Euroclub in Kvareli, Georgia, opened its new space with the support of the European Union and the US Embassy. 

The EuroClub, a youth organisation founded in Kvareli in 2019 with the support of the European Union’s Regional Communication Programme ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’, will now become a regional hub for education and development, not only in Kvareli municipality, but also in the Kakheti region. Since 2021, the EuroClub Kvareli unites the EuroClub and American Shelf in one space.

The main mission of EuroClub Kvareli is to promote education and development, raise civic awareness, provide access to non-formal education and spread Western values. The aim of the organisation is to bring the local community together and provide it with a space for open discussions, workshops, film screenings, and seminars.

Over the past three years, EuroClub Kvareli operations have reached more than 2,500 beneficiaries through 150+ activities as part of 25+ projects. These include the Citizen empowerment programme in Kvareli municipality, Activism film club, Open libraries, Book club, and European values and democracy campaign for European Days (EU4U).

Within the framework of the visit, on 23 December, the second round of political consultations was held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Republic of Maldives. From the Georgian side, the consultations were chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili.
During the consultations, the sides discussed in detail a wide range of bilateral relations and talked about the prospects for future cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of exchanging high-level visits and developing the bilateral legal framework. Talking points also included the possibility of developing relations in the areas of trade, tourism, education, sports and agriculture. In addition, the sides highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation in multilateral formats, including within the UN. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia thanked his Maldivian counterpart for supporting the UN resolution on the status of displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and Tskhinvali region, Georgia.
During the consultations, the Maldivian side confirmed once again its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
Within the framework of the visit to Georgia, the delegation of the Republic of Maldives also held meetings with the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Nikoloz Samkharadze, and the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze.