The signing of the Statute of the Parliamentary Assembly of Poland and Georgia was the highlight of a two-day (5-6 November) visit to Tbilisi by Sejm Speaker Marek Kuchciński. The delegation also included members of the Parliamentary Delegation of the Sejm and Senate to the Parliamentary Assembly of both countries: Deputy Speaker of the Senate Maria Koc and deputies Małgorzata Gosiewska, Magdalena Kochan and Bartosz Józwiak. The Sejm was also represented by Agnieszka Kaczmarska, Head of the Chancellery. The Polish side was completed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk and Jan Malicki, Director of the East European Studies at Warsaw University.
On Monday the delegation went to the Parliament's seat, where the Speaker of the Sejm met with the Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze. Politicians discussed Polish-Georgian political, economic, educational and cultural cooperation. The Speaker of the Sejm emphasized that Poland opposes any actions that infringe upon the national borders and presented the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament with a resolution which, in October this year, was used by the Sejm to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Polish-Georgian war. The Seym commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Russian aggression against Georgia. Chairman Kobakhidze thanked for the resolution and emphasized that deepening cooperation with Warsaw is a priority for Tbilisi. - Poles and Georgians are connected by special interpersonal and historical relations. This is the foundation of our cooperation - he said.
Heads of both Chambers signed the Statute of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Poland and Georgia, and then met for a press conference. - Such agreements are undertaken by the Sejm and the Senate in exceptional cases and only with friendly states. Our friendship has lasted for a hundred years, and its solid foundations are institutionally strengthened - said Marshal Kuchciński. The Assembly, which was established by the Sejm, the Senate and the Parliament of Georgia in March 2018, will consider matters of interest to the parliaments of both countries and adopt common positions in this regard.
During her visit to the Georgian Parliament, Minister Agnieszka Kaczmarska met with the Secretary General of the Georgian Parliament Givi Mikanadze.
In the seat of the National Library, in the presence of a large local Polish community, the heads of both Chambers took part in the ceremonial opening of the Polish Library. - We are united by values and goals, such as freedom and independence," said Marek Kuchciński, recalling the arrival of President Lech Kaczynski and other European leaders in Tbilisi in 2008 and the support they gave then to Georgia in its conflict with Russia. As Chairman Kobakhidze noted, the opening of the Library is a testimony to the deepening of Polish-Georgian relations. Also during the ceremony of the opening of the Polish Institute, which took place in the Parliament, Marek Kuchciński and Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized the friendly relations between the two countries, while the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk noted that the opening of the Institute is the next step in strengthening the lasting friendship between Poland and Georgia. Other speakers at the ceremony included Polish Ambassador to Georgia Mariusz Maszkiewicz and Lech Kończak, Director of the Polish Institute in Tbilisi.
On Tuesday, together with the Polish delegation, the Speaker of the Sejm laid a wreath at the monument to the late President Lech Kaczynski and paid tribute to the heroes killed for the unity of Georgia. In Tbilisi Marek Kuchciński also took part in unveiling of the plaque of the Polish Institute at the Polish Embassy. - We wish Georgia success in consolidating its sovereignty and striving for integration with Europe," said Marshal Kuchciński. The Polish delegation then travelled to Odzisi, where they visited the line of demarcation with the territory occupied since 2008 by Russian troops. In a conversation with the media, the Speaker of the Sejm stressed that Poland invariably does not agree with Russia's annexation of Georgian territories. - We must firmly demand the return of the territories occupied as a result of the aggression. We came here to express solidarity with the Georgian state.
After returning to Tbilisi, Marek Kuchcinski met with Elijah II, Catholicos-Patriarch, head of the Georgian Orthodox Church. - In my homeland the Church has always been pro-state and pro-national. And when the state was missing on the map, it even replaced it to some extent. It was similar in Georgia. I would like to express my highest respect. Poland has always been, is and will be on the side of independent and sovereign Georgia," said Marek Kuchciński.
http://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm8.nsf/komunikat.xsp?documentId=C2F2E557D02768E9C125833D003DD522
