Kobakhidze Visits Hungary, Meets Orbán, Addresses CPAC

2026-03-21 - 11:32

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has visited Budapest, where he met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual gathering of conservative politicians from around the world. The March 21 trip to Hungary came as Georgia mourns the late Patriarch Ilia II, who will be laid to rest on March 22. Kobakhidze’s Facebook post said Orbán extended condolences over the passing of Ilia II and thanked him for the visit to Budapest “in these difficult hours,” adding that he emphasized the Patriarch’s “epochal” role during the meeting. Kobakhidze also said his address to the conference would be “entirely” dedicated to the late Patriarch. Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and Government Administration Head Levan Zhorzholiani also participated in the visit. Addressing the conference, Kobakhidze began by honoring the late Patriarch: “He turned Christian ideals into a lasting source of strength for the Georgian people. Today, all of Georgia is united in grief,” he said, describing Ilia II’s passing as “deeply personal” for Georgians, “since he sowed love in people’s hearts and received the deepest love from the Georgian people.” “He was guiding Georgia with unwavering devotion to traditions and Christian morality. Beyond his spiritual leadership, the patriarch was a beacon of wisdom for the state as well. Over the course of his service, the Church was not merely a religious institution, but also a guardian of Georgian statehood and national identity. In honoring the patriarch, we are called to protect what he so peacefully upheld – the national and religious identity of our country,” Kobakhidze said. He went on to say that the world is undergoing an “essential transformation,” stressing that nations “can no longer be confident” that systems that once worked will continue to do so in the future. “At such a time, every country must confront a fundamental question: How can we defend our national interests without losing our values and our traditions?” he said, adding that for Georgia, this question “is not hypothetical.” “For 30 centuries, our small country has stood at the crossroads of civilizations, connecting Europe and Asia, cultures, trade routes, and ideas,” he said, adding that Georgia has learned an “important lesson”: “Nations remain resilient when they preserve a clear sense of identity and remain faithful to the values that define them.” He then spoke about the importance of Christianity for Georgia, saying that it has been an “integral part” of Georgia’s history, and noting that this year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the country’s adoption of Christianity, which he described as a “defining moment that shaped our nation’s spiritual and cultural development.” “The Christian cultural foundation remains central to who we are as a society,” Kobakhidze asserted. “Throughout history, our ancestors looked toward Europe as a space where their Christian identity could be safeguarded. Therefore, Georgia remains committed to its European integration path. But we pursue this path with dignity, with full respect for our heritage, peace, independence, and sovereignty,” he said, describing it as a “very difficult task.” “We sincerely hope that Europe will regain its sovereignty, Christian identity, and economic strength before Georgia becomes a member of the European Union.” Saying that global politics is marked by “growing uncertainty” and referring to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, which he said “remind us of the tragic human cost of geopolitical confrontations,” Kobakhidze expressed hope that “peace will soon be restored in the neighboring regions and that military confrontations will be replaced by diplomatic and political dialogue.” Describing the international system as “increasingly shaped by conflicts,” Kobakhidze said that Georgia has chosen a “different approach,” stating, “We believe in connectivity rather than confrontation. Our goal is to create opportunities for cooperation even in a fragmented world.” He claimed that Georgia today enjoys “stability,” which he described not as “accidental” but as the result of what he called “deliberate and pragmatic policy choices,” hailing Georgia’s economic growth. Speaking of the South Caucasus region, Kobakhidze said Georgia “strongly supports initiatives that promote stability, dialogue, and regional partnership,” adding that the region should be “defined by connectivity, trade, and cooperation rather than by conflict and division.” In his concluding remarks, Kobakhidze underscored Georgia’s “friendship and partnership” with Hungary, which he described as “more than a partner.” “It is a nation with which we share close and ever-deepening ties grounded in shared values and mutual respect,” he said. He then slammed what he called the “Brussels bureaucracy,” describing it as “deprived of sovereignty,” saying that it “cannot accept any sovereign government that defends its country’s independence and traditional values.” He added, “They cannot accept that you visit the country and see authentic Hungary, unlike many European countries, which have essentially lost their identity. They cannot accept that Hungary, thanks to its patriotic government, is effectively protecting itself from gender propaganda, immigration, and other vices that cause an existential problem for modern Europe.” He called Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections “a watershed” not only for Hungary but also for Europe, expressing hope that the vote will take place “without the rough interference of the Brussels bureaucracy,” and adding that “democracy must prevail over foreign interference in Hungary’s democratic elections.” He thanked PM Viktor Orbán “for his steadfast support for Georgia,” praising him as a “true warrior” for his nation and saying, “His words and actions have consistently demonstrated respect and care for the Georgian people. If [there had] not [been] the strong leadership of Prime Minister Orbán and his brave fight for Hungary’s national interests, it would have been much more difficult also for Georgia to protect its democracy, national sovereignty, and identity. Viktor Orbán’s leadership is important not only for Hungary, but for all of Europe.” Kobakhidze also wished Orbán a “long tenure” as “the leader of Hungary.” Kobakhidze then extended his best wishes to those around the world “who remain committed to protecting their nations’ independence, safeguarding traditional values, and respecting the democratic choices of their citizens in the face of growing ideological pressure.” It was Kobakhidze’s third time addressing the conference, following speeches in 2024 and 2025. In 2023, then-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili also spoke at the conference. Also Read: 28/05/2025 – GD PM Kobakhidze Visits Hungary to Participate in CPAC 25/04/2024 – CPAC: PM Kobakhidze Defends Christianity, Identity from “So-Called Liberals” 04/05/2023 – Georgian Prime Minister Advocates for Conservatism and Slams “False” Values at CPAC