Mikheil Kavelashvili

I addressed the participants of the 2026 Regional Ecological Summit. I expressed my gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for organizing this important summit.   As I emphasized in my remarks, environmental protection today is no longer merely a subject of political discourse; rather, it exerts a tangible impact on our economies, as well as on the daily lives of our societies and citizens.   Climate change, water security, the risks associated with biodiversity loss and environmental pollution are deeply interconnected challenges that increasingly strain the resilience of our societies and the stability of our economies.   I noted that, in this context, Georgia offers a clear vision grounded in the strengthening of environmental governance, the advancement of climate policy, and the promotion of green and inclusive growth. These priorities constitute an integral component of our national strategic documents and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the principles of sustainable development.   As I stated in my address, over the past decade we have significantly expanded the coverage of protected areas, which now exceeds 13% of the country’s territory, while protected ecosystems account for approximately 23%.   Our objective is to increase this figure to 30% by 2035, fully aligning with internationally established targets.   I underscored that Georgia is in the process of transitioning to a circular and resource-efficient economy.   In January 2026, the country introduced specific restrictions on single-use plastic products, representing a significant step toward reducing environmental pollution. Another key priority is the reform of water resource management. We are investing in infrastructure to expand access to safe drinking water and to enhance wastewater treatment capacities, thereby enabling more effective protection of our rivers and natural ecosystems.   Agriculture and rural development remain central to the sustainable development agenda. We are firmly committed to modernizing irrigation systems and to promoting climate-resilient practices, alongside the adoption of innovative technologies.   We believe that these efforts will yield positive outcomes both at the national level and across the broader region, particularly in terms of fostering stability and advancing progress.   I also noted that the South Caucasus is acquiring increasing strategic importance, owing to its potential for connectivity and cooperation. Georgia, which has historically served as a bridge linking diverse regions, cultures, and markets, continues to reinforce this role by fostering a stable and predictable environment in which long-term development delivers tangible benefits to all stakeholders without exception.   For Georgia, sustainable development is not merely an international obligation, but a central priority of state policy. Accordingly, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals constitute an integral component of the country’s long-term development vision.   Georgia’s cooperation with the United Nations plays a pivotal role in this process. Georgia was among the first countries to present its Voluntary National Review at the High-Level Political Forum, thereby demonstrating its consistent commitment to the 2030 Agenda.   In my address, I underscored that effective governance systems and robust institutional frameworks are of little value in the absence of peace and stability. We believe this is particularly important in the context of today’s highly unstable global environment, which presents significant challenges to development and cooperation.   🔗 Read more: president.ge/en/news/295

In Astana, I held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the meeting, we discussed bilateral relations and the prospects for deepening cooperation across various sectors. As I noted, the Middle Corridor holds significant potential for expansion, and advancing this route requires intensified joint efforts. We noted that the traditional friendship that has linked the two countries across various fields for many years requires the signing of a strategic partnership document. I expressed my gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan for his country’s unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. I also congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the successful conduct of the referendum on the adoption of the new Constitution, noting that it will further strengthen statehood, enhance institutional effectiveness, and, under his leadership, contribute to sustainable socio-economic development.

Within the framework of the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, I visited the International Exhibition of Green and Sustainable Technologies together with the leaders of other participating countries. The exhibition was hosted by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. It was held at the International Exhibition Center, where the pavilions featured thematic displays on water, artificial intelligence and smart cities, waste management, environmental technologies, agriculture, green construction and related fields. I attended the International Exhibition of Green and Sustainable Technologies together with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Davit Songulashvili.

I am currently in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on an official working visit together with a delegation, where I will participate in a regional environmental summit. At Astana International Airport, we were welcomed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yermukhambet Konuspayev, and the Mayor of Astana, Zhenis Kassymbek. I will address the participants at the plenary session of the regional environmental summit. Within the framework of the forum, which is organized in partnership with the United Nations, leaders from various countries will discuss the challenges posed by climate change and the importance of coordinated efforts to address these emerging issues. Particular attention will also be devoted to connectivity, which is of critical importance for landlocked countries. The summit is attended by the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Armenia, as well as the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. The forum’s speakers also include senior representatives of various international organizations. Within the framework of the working visit, I will meet with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Georgian delegation includes the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Davit Songulashvili, the Head of the Presidential Administration, Ketevan Kvinikadze, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Khvtisiashvili.

I held a meeting at the Presidential Palace with a delegation of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy. During the meeting, which was attended by representatives from Greece, Romania, Cyprus, North Macedonia and Egypt, we discussed the Assembly’s recent activities and its planned future initiatives. We also underscored the importance of the Assembly’s work, noting that it is oriented toward safeguarding Christian values in the context of global economic and social crises, as well as toward promoting social justice and democratic processes. As I noted during the meeting, Orthodox Christianity constitutes, for our countries, not merely a religious confession but an integral component of our cultural identity, traditions and historical memory. In a rapidly changing world, our nations, by standing on this firm foundation, safeguard their national interests and sovereignty. I once again expressed my gratitude to the members of the delegation for their steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. I also spoke about the merits and contributions of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II and thanked the delegation members for their sincere condolences and expressions of sympathy. The meeting at the Presidential Palace was attended, on behalf of the guests, by the Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) and General Secretary of the parliamentary political group “New Democracy” of the Hellenic Parliament, Maximos Charakopoulos; the President of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) and member of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, Ioan Vulpescu; member of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, Elias Myrianthous; member of the House of Representatives of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Manal Helali; member of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mile Talevski; and Advisor to the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), Kostas Mygdalis. From the Georgian side, the meeting was attended by the Head of the Permanent Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia to the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, Irakli Kadagishvili; Vice Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Nino Tsilosani; member of the Permanent Delegation, Zaza Lominadze; First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Irakli Shatakishvili; as well as representatives of the Presidential Administration.

I held a meeting at the Presidential Palace with ambassadors accredited to the United Nations. At the meeting, I welcomed the ambassadors’ visit to Georgia and emphasized the positive significance of such visits. We discussed fruitful cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, Georgia’s active engagement in the organization’s activities and current issues on the UN agenda. We devoted particular attention to the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories, with emphasis placed on the country’s economic potential and the reforms that have been implemented. Attention was also drawn to global challenges and ongoing international developments. As noted during the meeting, Georgia welcomes the United Nations Secretary-General’s reform initiative, UN80, which aims to enhance the Organization’s effectiveness and to recognize the necessity of structural reforms. In this context, I also underscored Georgia’s distinctive role as a platform for dialogue among civilizations and for the promotion of peace. The visiting delegation in Georgia includes the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations from Tonga, Samoa, Tajikistan, the Republic of Congo, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Timor-Leste, Paraguay, Mauritius and Botswana. The meeting was attended by Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; David Bakradze, Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and representatives of the Administration of the President of Georgia.

At the Presidential Palace, I met with Zhou Qian, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Georgia. During our discussion, we underscored the positive momentum in the strategic partnership between Georgia and China and the development of our bilateral relations, as well as our fruitful cooperation in trade and economy, tourism, culture, sports and education. I emphasized the importance of cooperation within the framework of "the Belt and Road Initiative" and the development of the Middle Corridor, noting that Georgia is ready to support its development, security and effective operation. We also reaffirmed, once again, our unconditional support for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yermek Kosherbayev, at the Presidential Palace. During the meeting, we discussed the friendly and cooperative relations between Georgia and Kazakhstan, as well as the successful collaboration taking place across various fields. We discussed issues pertaining to the elevation of bilateral relations to the strategic level. We emphasized that the strong partnership between the two countries is founded on mutual respect, the protection of national interests and the consideration of shared regional priorities. Particular attention was devoted to ongoing global political developments and active conflicts. We noted that, in light of these challenges, maintaining stability and peace in the South Caucasus and Central Asia assumes global significance. We also highlighted the growing role of the Middle Corridor and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity within a complex and rapidly evolving geopolitical environment. I expressed my gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Kazakhstan’s steadfast support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Khvtisiashvili, the Head of the Friendship Group with the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Anton Obolashvili, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Levan Diasamidze, as well as representatives of the Presidential Administration.

I held a face-to-face meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. During the meeting, we discussed the high level of strategic partnership between the two countries and successful cooperation across various sectors. I emphasized that maintaining the existing strong strategic partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan at a high standard, as well as fostering its multifaceted development, remains a priority for Georgia. During our bilateral discussion, we emphasized that against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical developments, and at a time when the international order is undergoing fundamental changes, the maintenance of stability and peace in the region is becoming increasingly important. I expressed my gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for his support of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. I also thanked Ilham Aliyev for visiting the Embassy of Georgia in Baku and for conveying his sincere condolences on the passing of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. Following the meeting, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, made an entry in the Book of Honorary Guests. The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace of Georgia.

The Official Ceremony Welcoming the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Took Place. I hosted my counterpart at the Presidential Palace of Georgia. As part of the ceremony, the national anthems of both countries were performed. During the official visit, I held a face-to-face meeting with my counterpart. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was accompanied by his spouse and the official delegation during the visit.

Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic, has hosted us at an official dinner.

My counterpart, the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini and I paid tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives attempting to flee Communist Czechoslovakia between 1945 and 1989, laying a wreath at the Gate of Freedom memorial. Inaugurated in 2005 in Devin, the memorial stands as a lasting symbol of freedom and victory.

Together with the delegation, I met with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Denisa Saková. During the meeting, we emphasized the positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations between Georgia and the Slovak Republic across various sectors. Particular attention was given to sectoral cooperation and the potential for trade and economic collaboration. The discussion also addressed ongoing global political developments and the challenges currently facing the countries. We highlighted the strategic significance of the Middle Corridor and Georgia’s role within it. Additionally, we discussed relations between Georgia and the European Union.

Following the meeting with the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, we held a joint briefing. I expressed my gratitude to the President of Slovakia for his hospitality and the meaningful dialogue, noting that Slovakia is one of Georgia’s closest allies and friends. In my remarks, I emphasized that Slovakia has always been, and continues to be, a steadfast supporter of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which we sincerely appreciate. Our countries share a common vision based on the principles of peace, stability and the protection of national interests. In the context of global challenges and geopolitical risks, solidarity and close cooperation among countries that share common values and approaches acquire particular significance. I emphasized that, in order to maintain the positive momentum of bilateral cooperation between our countries, it is essential to continue holding high-level meetings. It was in this context that we discussed specific plans and priorities for the near future. We discussed the broad potential for sectoral cooperation, covering trade and economic relations, attraction of investments, tourism, defense and security, as well as cultural, educational and youth-related initiatives. It is noteworthy that, since January of this year, direct air service has commenced between Kutaisi and Bratislava, which brings our peoples closer together and is expected to increase the number of tourists visiting both Slovakia and Georgia. During the meeting with the President of Slovakia, we once again highlighted the special significance of Georgia as a key node in the Middle Corridor in today’s geopolitical context. I stated that promoting civilizational dialogue and connectivity between Europe, Asia and the broader Middle East is at the forefront of our agenda and represents one of the key vectors of our foreign policy. The discussion also focused on Georgia’s relationship with the European Union. The idea of the EU was founded on peace, economic development, equality, justice and mutual respect. Unfortunately, at present, European bureaucracy often makes mistakes in its dealings with us. Georgia remains committed to these values, and Slovakia serves as an exemplary model in upholding these principles. I emphasized that we have not halted negotiations. We are always ready for fair, constructive dialogue, but such a process requires a counterpart. Unfortunately, at present, the bureaucracy in Brussels behaves differently. Nonetheless, we are encouraged by countries that uphold these principles. While being one example among few, Slovakia is a leading country in this regard and has consistently supported Georgia. I noted that if more countries were committed to the peace policies pursued by Slovakia and Georgia, I am convinced that the war in Ukraine would not have occurred. For now, we are few, but I am confident that the number of countries defending these principles will inevitably grow. I invited the President of Slovakia to Georgia, and I hope that our dialogue will continue on Georgian soil.

The Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Richard Raši, hosted us at a working lunch. During the meeting, we focused on prospects for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation and emphasized that collaboration between the legislative bodies holds a central place in Georgia-Slovakia relations. We also underscored the traditionally strong friendship between the Georgian and Slovak peoples, their cultural affinity, and shared values. Additionally, we discussed ongoing political developments worldwide and focused on the common challenges facing both countries. The meeting was attended by Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee; George Zurabashvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Konstantine Kvachakidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Slovak Republic; and representatives of the Administration of the President of Georgia.

As part of the official visit to the Slovak Republic, I met with the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini. During the face-to-face meeting held at the Presidential Palace, we discussed the successful cooperation between Georgia and Slovakia and the deepening of dialogue between our countries. We particularly emphasized the importance of invigorating the dynamics of bilateral visits and developing cooperation across various sectors. It was highlighted during the meeting that, in an era of unprecedented global challenges and risks, it is especially valuable for Georgia to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Slovakia and to support each other in international forums. I expressed my gratitude to my counterpart for Slovakia’s support of Georgia’s European integration and for its efforts in upholding the Georgia-European Union partnership. I noted that Georgia values Slovakia’s steadfast support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Following the face-to-face meeting, the discussions continued in an expanded-format session. We discussed the main areas of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Slovakia, including sectoral collaboration, and explored prospects for their further deepening. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of strengthening economic relations, promoting the development of tourism and fostering people-to-people contacts. We also underscored that, in today’s complex and rapidly changing geopolitical environment, global connectivity and Georgia’s growing role as a key node in the Middle Corridor, along with its growing potential, assume particular significance. It was further noted that Georgia welcomes Slovakia’s interest in the region’s potential and expressed readiness for close engagement and cooperation. The meeting highlighted the importance of fostering and promoting close contacts between the higher education institutions and research institutes of Georgia and Slovakia, including through exchange and joint programs, as well as scientific research. The expanded-format meeting between the Presidents of Georgia and Slovakia was attended by Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee; George Zurabashvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Konstantine Kvachakidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Slovak Republic; and representatives of the Administration of the President of Georgia.

An official reception of the Georgian delegation took place at the Presidential Palace of the Slovak Republic. As part of the official visit, I will meet with my Slovak counterpart in both bilateral and expanded formats, followed by a joint statement to the media. The visit will also include meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Denisa Saková, and the Speaker of the National Council, Richard Raši.

I am visiting Bratislava, the capital of the Slovak Republic, on an official visit with the Georgian delegation. As part of the visit, my colleague, Peter Pellegrini, will host me at the Presidential Palace of the Slovak Republic. Bilateral and expanded-format meetings are scheduled, after which we will issue a joint statement to the media. I will also meet with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Denisa Saková, and the Speaker of the National Council, Richard Raši. The Georgian delegation includes Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee; George Zurabashvili, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Konstantine Kvachakidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Slovak Republic; and representatives of the Administration of the President of Georgia.