Hanna Hopko, the Head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, held on September the 29th a meeting with Gela Dumbadze, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to Ukraine, acting at the same time as Permanent GUAM Representative of Georgia.
The sitting was also attended by Khvycha Meparishvili, the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Georgia of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Jemal Gogitidze, Senior Counselor of the Embassy of Georgia to Ukraine.
The parties have discussed a range of topics of mutual interest concerning the bilateral cooperation and prospects of future inter-parliamentary cooperation. Special attention was paid to the ongoing Russian aggression to Ukraine, launching of effective tools of international monitoring over the situation, current state of affairs and future cooperation with regard to the occupied regions of Georgia and Ukraine, and protection of the human rights throughout the above territories.
The parties have talked over great importance of European prospects to Ukraine, the need to harmonize Ukrainian and Georgian aspirations to NATO and the EU at a multilateral level, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), etc.
Particular attention was paid to the forthcoming Georgian parliamentary visit to Ukraine.
NotaBene
GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic
Development is a regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan,
and Moldova. GUAM's charter was
signed during a summit in Yalta on 6 to 7 June 2001 by the four current members
and Uzbekistan, which later withdrew. According to a former Ukrainian President,
the charter set objectives for cooperation, such as promoting democratic
values, ensuring stable development, enhancing international and regional
security and stepping up European integration. In June 2007, GUAM nations agreed to form a
500-personnel joint peacekeeping force to battle separatism. Given the
existence of the Russian-led Commonwealt of Independent States (CIS), GUAM is
sometimes seen in Russia as a way of countering the Russian influence in the
area and as part of a strategy backed by the United States.
However, GUAM leaders repeatedly and officially dismiss such claims and
declare their strong willingness to develop close and friendly relations with
Russia. Moreover, Azerbaijan, the group's main energy power, has managed to
avoid any conflicts with Russia in recent years. In 2014, the group moved to
use English instead of Russian as a working language at its meetings. The current
members are: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova. Observers: Turkey, Latvia.
Gela Dumbadze is a Georgian diplomat. He was the State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Issues from 2014 to 2016. He studied in N55 Tbilisi Public School. In 1989 he graduated Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Philology (with honors), in 1999–2001 he studied in Diplomatic Academy of Georgia. In 1998–99 he works as a First Secretary of Information and Public Relations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, in 1999–2000 – became the Head of the Press Center, MFA. In 1999–2001 Gela Dumbadze is transferred to a position of a Deputy Director, Foreign Political Information and Public Relations Department, MFA. In 2001–05 is a Counselor at the Embassy of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2005–07 he is the Head of Cultural Heritage and Diaspora Relations Division, MFA Georgia. In 2007–09 serves as a Counselor at the Embassy of Georgia to the Russian Federation. In 2009–13 he serves as a Senior Counselor of the Embassy of Georgia to Ukraine. In 2013–14 – as a Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Georgia to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. From 2 June 2014 to 22 July he was a Deputy State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Issues. On 26 July 2014 Gela Dumbadze was appointed as the State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Issues.