Tbilisi, Georgia. 17-20 April 2026. Spring meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

    Statement of the International Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) on the Devastating Consequences of several Conflicts, the Role of Religions, and the Position of Europe

The members of the International Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) paid an official visit to Tbilisi, Georgia, from 17 to 20 April 2026, where the spring meeting of the International Secretariat was also held. The visit was organized under the coordination of the Head of the Georgian parliamentary delegation to the IAO, Mr. Irakli Kadagishvili, with the support of the country’s Parliament.

The works of the IAO International Secretariat was attended by parliamentarians from 11 countries, namely: Greece (Maximos Charakopoulos, IAO Secretary General), Romania (Ioan Vulpescu, President of the IAO General Assembly), Egypt (Ingy Mourad), Armenia (Sisak Gabrielyan, Hrachya Hakobyan and Hayk Tsirunyan), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Nenad Grkovic and Ljubica Miljanovic), North Macedonia (Mile Talevski), Georgia (Irakli Kadagishvili and Zaza Lominadze), Jordan (Jehad Abawi, Wasfi Haddad, Hayel Ayash and Eyad Jebreen), Cyprus (Ilias Myrianthous and Alekos Tryfonidis), Hungary (Lyubomir Alexov and Laokratis Koranisz), Serbia (Jovan Janjis), as well as and the IAO Advisor Dr. Kostas Mygdalis. Moreover, former members of the Egyptian Parliament Mr. Ehab Ramzy and Dr. Manal Helal were participating as observers.

The opening of the International Secretariat meeting, which took place in the Parliament of Georgia, was declared by the Chairman of the Parliament of the country, Mr. Shalva Papuashvili.

The IAO Secretary General, dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, as head of the Organization’s executive body, welcomed the presence of the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, noting that “We are here to commemorate the anniversary year for Georgia, 2026, as it marks 1700 years since the adoption of Christianity as the country’s official religion. A pivotal event for the national and cultural identity of Georgians, as well as the history of the wider Black Sea region, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia.”

For his part, the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament welcomed the members of the IAO International Secretariat, recognizing their work, and referred to the catalytic importance of Georgia’s Christianization in 326 by the Isapostle Nina. He stated that faith was particularly important in overcoming the ordeal of decades of atheism and the rebirth of the Georgian state. Finally, he emphasized the need for the modern world to move through the balance of faith and reason, tradition and modernity.

The head of the Georgian parliamentary delegation to the IAO, Mr. Irakli Kadagishvili, also delivered welcome address to the members.

During his address, the IAO Secretary General underlined “there is no doubt that the global community has entered new turbulent and uncharted waters. International law, which humanity has tried to strengthen over the many decades since the bloody Second World War, is being undermined. The power and use of military means are once again emerging as the dominant means of enforcing aspirations and interests. Thousands are the victims of recent wars, millions are homeless, the economic consequences are incalculable not only for those involved but also almost everywhere, due to the now globalized economy. International organizations, such as the UN, seem incapable of having any meaningful intervention in our rapidly changing world.” The head of the IAO then referred in detail to the war in the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, the pogrom against Christians in the Christian city of al-Suqaylabiya in Syria, the need to protect the Holy Land, which this year was tested by war and the bans on celebrations.

The IAO Secretary General pointed out that “in this gloomy international environment, which limits optimism and increases concerns, the IAO must formulate its clear positions urbi et orbi. As it has been doing for 33 consecutive years, defending Orthodox and Christian values ​​in general. That is why we remain committed to resorting to peaceful means of resolving disputes, to diplomacy, reconciliation and cooperation.

At the same time, we support every diplomatic initiative aimed at pacifying military confrontations, enforcing the rules of international law and respecting human rights at the individual and collective levels.

Furthermore, as a IAO we promote a coherent strategy for the protection of Peace, mainly through highlighting the importance of involvement and the religious element in international relations and the collaboration of religious institutions and personalities with political and social actors. The crowning glory of these efforts is our initiatives for the promotion of the recommendations of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the Rome and Marrakesh Communiques”.

The head of the IAO proceeded to a detailed overview report on the Organization’s actions during the previous six months. Specifically, he referred in the report to the Organization’s diverse activity, which includes a series of international initiatives aimed at inter-parliamentary cooperation, promoting dialogue, establishing channels of cooperation and strengthening Christian values ​​in Europe. In the second part of the proceedings, the Secretary General developed the planning of the Organization’s future actions.

Finally, the members of the International Secretariat adopted a Statement on the Devastating Consequences of several Conflicts, the Role of Religions, and the Position of Europe.

Meeting with the Chairman of Parliament of Georgia

The heads of the national delegations participating in the mission had the opportunity to meet with the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Mr. Shalva Papuashvili. During the meeting, Maximos Charakopoulos underlined that “Georgia and the wider Caucasus region have been integrated into the European world since ancient times. The Argonauts’ expedition to the kingdom of Colchis, as well as the myth of Prometheus found in the Caucasus, demonstrate the deep roots of these close relations that created the Black Sea. A hospitable sea of ​​material and spiritual exchange. Relations that were strengthened over time, culminating in the early Christianization of Georgia in the 4th century with the contribution of the Isapostle Nina, who came from the holy land of Cappadocia, the place of origin of my grandparents. Throughout this long period that followed, Georgia was a stronghold of Orthodoxy that decisively shaped the identity of its people. And it was this relationship with Orthodoxy that helped it emerge from the test of the years of existing socialism. Today, your country enjoys the fourth decade of its independence and looks confidently to the future.”

For his part, Mr. Papuashvili noted that it is a great honor for the Georgian Parliament to host the work of the IAO International Secretariat and the continuous and active participation in the actions of the Organization since its establishment in 1993. He expressed his gratitude for the observance of a minute of silence in honor of the recently departed Patriarch Ilias of Georgia, who for 50 years was a support for every Orthodox Georgian and a symbol of the unity of the country. The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia focused particularly on the fact of the promotion of Christian values ​​in modern Europe, and more broadly in the Christian world, and invited the members of the IAO to take part in the great celebrations that will be held in October for the 1700th anniversary of the Christianization of Georgians.

Meeting with the President of Georgia

On the sidelines of the International Secretariat session, a meeting was also held with the President of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Kavelashvili, which took place at the presidential palace.

The head of the interparliamentary organization emphasized that “Europe is in a process of redefining its orientations. This is dictated by the rapid international developments, which require adaptation to a highly competitive world. Orthodoxy is a constituent element of Georgia’s national identity. In a Europe that until recently seemed to be moving away from Christian values, the enlargement of the EU, with countries like Georgia, is important. We want Georgia to co-shape the new Europe, which is why we support its accession process. An enlargement that will also contribute to stability in the wider region. After all, as the great Byzantinologist Sir Stephen Runciman said, the 21st century will be the century of Orthodoxy.”

For his part, the President of Georgia welcomed the members of the IAO International Secretariat and wished them success in their work and in the work of the Organization in general. In his address, he particularly emphasized the need to defend traditional values ​​in the modern world.

Meeting with Metropolitan

During his stay in Georgia, the head of the IAO had a meeting with the Vicar of the Patriarchal Throne of Georgia, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki, Chkhorotsqu and Australia, at the headquarters of the Patriarchate.

The Secretary General noted that “we considered it our duty to express our condolences to you for the late Patriarch of Georgia, His Holiness Ilias. I had the honor and blessing to meet him 18 years ago, when I visited Tbilisi and to see that he was a learned and meek hierarch, who was rightly loved by the people of Georgia. Patriarch Ilias, through his work as a regenerator of the Church, emerged as a symbol of unity for the Georgian people. Furthermore, he emerged as a figure of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Proof of this was, moreover, that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over his funeral procession. I hope that the Church of Georgia will elect a worthy successor to continue his brilliant work.”

For his part, the Vicar, after welcoming the IAO delegation, thanked them for the honors they paid to the deceased Ilia II, who is an example of Love and Peace and to whom the Church of Georgia today owes everything. He also pointed out that the existence of the organization is of immense importance for the Orthodox world, as it unites Christians around common traditions and values, and invited the IAO to actively participate in the great celebrations that will take place in Georgia in October of this year, on the occasion of the completion of 1700 years since the Christianization of the country.

In addition to the IAO Secretary General, the meeting was attended by members of parliament from Romania, Mr. Ioan Vulpescu, President of the IAO General Assembly, and Georgia, Mr. Irakli Kadagishvili, Mr. Zaza Lominadze, Mr. Irakli Shatakishvili, Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, and Ms. Nino Tsilosani, as well as IAO Advisor Dr. Kostas Mygdalis.

Earlier, the IAO delegation laid wreath at the tomb of the late Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, who served as Primate of the Church of Georgia for 49 years, while attending a memorial service for the rest of his soul in peace performed by the Protosyngel and Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy, Fr. Giorgi Zviadadze.

Finally, the members of the Greek and Cypriot delegations visited the Greek-speaking and Pontic-speaking villages of the Tsalka region and had meetings with members of the Greek community.