Orbeli Center Interview with Georgia’s Ambassador to Armenia

In the context of evolving Armenia–Georgia relations, Orbeli Center had the honor of conducting an exclusive interview with His Excellency George Sharvashidze, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Armenia. The conversation touched upon a wide range of key topics — from the progress made since the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement to regional peace initiatives, economic and infrastructure cooperation, and the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening mutual understanding between the two nations. His Excellency shared his reflections on the current state of bilateral ties, discussed recent achievements and ongoing projects, and offered insights into how Armenia and Georgia can further deepen their collaboration across various fields.

-Mr. Ambassador, in one of your recent interviews, you have mentioned that Armenian-Georgia relations have reached their historical peak. What key developments or realities have contributed to such a strong assessment?

Thank you for your question. It's really a million dollar question, but I would start probably with a strategic partnership, that we reached this agreement finally a year ago and that was a highlight of this year. And after that, I believe that we strengthen our cooperation in different directions, including economical cooperation, political dialogue, intensification of this dialogue, in cultural and educational spheres, in youth affairs. So, in each and every component we have quite significant progress to compare with years that passed. 

-Georgia has consistently taken the lead in regional peace initiatives. Recently, there has been growing attention to the peaceful Caucasus concept. Could you please elaborate on this initiative and what it proposes to regional states?

Georgia is interested in stability, long-lasting peace and in strengthening economic ties and opening connections, connectivity in our region for obvious reasons. Stability and peace in the Caucasus is something that we would pay special attention to. In this particular case, quite a number of initiatives were put on the table to discuss with our partners. We recently had a meeting of deputy ministers of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia in Tbilisi. We would like to continue this attempt and also to discuss opportunities where we can start a cooperation. 

-Armenia on the other hand also introduced his own vision for regional stability through the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative. In your view, what steps should South Caucasus countries take to achieve lasting peace, stability in the context of regional conflicts resolution? 

We'll probably start with economical connections and ties with trade. Opening connectivity, as I already mentioned, is of high importance for our countries. And I believe that every initiative that is discussed is very interesting because we're talking about East-West, about South-North corridors, about the Middle Corridor, and it's something that should be discussed in more detail. But clearly, with the way out, we need long-lasting peace because sustainable development depends on that.

-It has been a year since Armenia and Georgia signed the Armenian-Georgian strategic partnership agreement. How would you evaluate the progress so far and which areas have seen the most success and which ones hold untapped potential for new cooperation? 

First of all, it's a political connections on the highest level. At least twice a year, prime ministers are visiting our countries and that gives a stimulus to our ministries, to our state agencies, to our not only state agencies but also for the non-state sector to work, cooperate closer in every direction. Also, we're having a wonderful mechanism of economical cooperation which is an intergovernmental council and it's something that we're using a lot. Once a year we're having the gathering on the highest possible level in both countries. 

And also it's a political dialogue between the ministries of foreign affairs. This time Yerevan will host the next round of these political discussions very soon. Also we're having quite a lot in cultural affairs and that's something that we should mention․ For many centuries Georgia and Armenia have been in very unique position and I can't really name the neighboring countries worldwide that lived for thousands of years together and had no profound conflicts for many years. That's something we can really enjoy. Our history is our past, our common past, but it's also our future. And we have to draw lessons from our past and also to look into the future. 

Intensification in youth affairs, in education, that's very encouraging because youth dialogue is already in place. The third round was in Armenia, a couple of weeks ago, attended by the Minister of Education, Sports, Youth, and Science of Armenia, and deputy minister from Georgia. We'll host Armenian youth in Anaklia camp in a couple of weeks and it's something that gives us the possibility to establish dialogue and debate among students and youth representatives. In culture, I believe that we're on the highest peak of our cooperation because recently we had days of Georgian culture in Yerevan, hosted by the Armenian side. We will host the same event in Georgia, the days of Armenian culture in Georgia in 2026. And that's also an opportunity to present culture, to have exhibitions, to have exchanges, to have discussions, and that's people to people connections are very valued from our side. And business to business cooperation is also worth mentioning. We had a very interesting Economic Forum on the 6th of May in Yerevan where quite a number of prominent business representatives from Georgia and Armenia discussed the ways of future cooperation. 

Not only that, but we had also in Dilijan this year another opportunity to have a tourist companies meeting and that's quite a number of companies from Georgia and Armenia. That's working on joint proposals for future clientele and that's also very interesting because more than 30 tourist agencies are providing a joint agenda for foreign guests to visit the region. So it's very encouraging and we're very optimistic about the future of our cooperation. Not to mention tourism as such because almost 1 million Armenians are visiting Georgia and the number of Georgians visiting Armenia increased drastically. 

-Great to hear it. And coming to economic cooperation, we would like to listen to your views about economic cooperation and bilateral trade. Trade is considered the most advanced area in Armenian-Georgian relations. Having surpassed the 1 billion threshold, what realistic next steps are or goals do you see for both countries, especially in the light of regional and global challenges?

First of all, I would like to mention that quite a number of big infrastructure projects are started in both countries, in Georgia and Armenia. And that matters because we work to improve road infrastructure, connectivity needs a lot of things to be done and to put into place are connected with financing these activities and we're really grateful to our international partners that helped us to establish modern infrastructure in our country. 

We're also working on connectivity in the energy sector, which is also very important because we're paying special attention to renewable energy, green energy, and that's something that we're working on.  The trade is ongoing and is increasing, and it's very encouraging as well. So I hope that in future we'll have more joint projects and that will boost our cooperation even better. 

-And you also mentioned infrastructure, my next question is about it․ Georgia is actively developing its East-West and North-South highways. The European Bank has supported extensions of the East-West highway toward the borders with Armenia and Azerbaijan. What is the current status of the Algeti-Sadakhlo section?

Namely on Algeti-Sadakhlo we're having now a round of tenders announced already to develop this particular piece of huge project which is connecting the borders of Georgia. Also we have another direction which is Lars and there we have very intensive work because it's a very difficult landscape. It's a mountainous area in Kazbegi region.

-Mr. Ambassador, you have mentioned the North and South Highway. Another key project in Georgia is the Kvesheti-Kobi section, which holds strategic importance not only for Georgia but also for Armenia. Could you please share the current status of this project and initial reports mentioned that completion was expected by the end of the last year. So, what is the current status of this project? 

Currently on this particular part the drills of the main tunnel are already finished and that's the main part of this road. And back to Sadahlo-Algeti part, it will be ready by 2026 again. As I already mentioned, it's a very difficult task, but we're undertaking a lot of tunnels, a lot of bridges, and that's probably the biggest infrastructure project in the whole region. But we're moving slowly but steadily and I believe that we'll achieve our goals pretty soon. And you can see the fruits and results of this particular project.

-In the beginning of our interview, we have also mentioned Georgian Days of Culture in Armenia. I want to ask about this event which was held in Armenia with great public enthusiasm. The Armenian public has always shown warm appreciation for Georgian culture, music, and dance.  In your view, how can such cultural events contribute to deeper mutual understanding and what else should be done in both societies to better understand each other and not to harm?

I believe that everything that can be done in culture will promote our mutual understanding. All the time we're saying that we're neighbors, we're friends, we're brothers and that's true. We have quite a lot of things in common and it's what we should really cherish. In this particular case when we were talking about days of culture here and there, it was a quite a nice tradition many years ago but it was forgotten and so we started from zero ground and our suggestion was to create a platform where we can present not only traditional dances and singing, but also to have opportunity to present wine, wineries, special events for youth, who had quite a number of activities planned in Yerevan and was really received with great enthusiasm.

We had a highlight of this particular event, the concert of Elisioni in Karen Demirchyan’s center and that was quite an impressive show I would say.

Also the days of Georgian wine that we presented. It was around 15 producers from Georgia presenting their own wines done in the traditional Georgian way in Kvevri and that was also very interesting because it was accompanied with music, with street food presentation and that was something that probably a lot of Yerevan citizens will remember for a long time.

We also had an opening part in the premises of our embassy, we had reception and coincided almost with our Independence Day and a number of very prominent Georgian musicians travelled to Yerevan. But it's not only about one week or three days of intensive cultural exchanges, because almost every month a lot is happening either in Tbilisi or in Yerevan, which is wonderful.

And also when we're talking about the future cultural days in Tbilisi, in Georgia, I believe that we'll have an opportunity to present a traditional but also the modern face of Armenia that's something that is of high interest.

I was talking about the growing number of Georgian tourists coming to Armenia and as we're assuring. And first of all I would like to mention a very interesting part of tourism which is growing is gastronomical tourism from Georgia.

We have a lot of things in common and we have a lot of things to learn from each other and it's very important not to forget. 

- Yes, of course. And, Your Excellency, on a more personal note what do you enjoy most about being in Armenia. And what would you recommend to a Georgian tourist visiting Armenia for the first time?

Another million dollar question. It's a lot of cultural sightseeing. It's a wonderful food. And I would also recommend Armenian cognac (Armenian Brandy-Orbeli Center) of course. I believe I will start with cultural highlights in Armenia. It's a lot to see. And for somebody who is coming from Tbilisi, of course, I would recommend visiting museums and the Historical museum, Art gallery, Parajanov's museum, and a lot of things to see in Yerevan. And also enjoy food, of course, because it's a part of culture as well and a very important part of culture. We shouldn't forget about it. 

There are a lot of very interesting places in Yerevan to be visited and they have to explore a little bit more in Yerevan. Clubbing in Yerevan as well, jazz clubs. 

- Especially for youth.

For youth and not only for youth, jazz clubs are not really for youth but I would recommend to my generation to go to Malkhas and Metso and youngsters visit other places. There are a lot of things to be really seen.

-Mr. Ambassador, thank you for this opportunity and thank you for your engaging informative conversation.