PM reviews Georgia’s foreign policy, investment environment

"I don’t know anyone who doubts our European integration or our European orientation. This is our foreign policy and this is the choice of our people,” says Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibahsvili.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Garibashvili spoke positively of Georgia's foreign policy in an interview with American broadcaster CNBC.

Alongside Georgia’s foreign policy, the PM also talked about:

• What made his country attractive for investors;
• Georgia’s thoughts towards Ukraine; and
• How much of a threat Russia posed to its neighbours.

See the full interview below.

"Ukraine is a close friend and we are very concerned about what is going on there,” Garibashvili said.

"We experienced this conflict in 2008 and at that time the world did not pay enough attention," he said in reference to the Russia-Georgia war in 2008 over two breakaway regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

Last November, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a "strategic partnership" with Abkhazia. Moscow recognised Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region as independent countries.

"The major problem with Russia is the occupied territories it has. From an economic and trade perspective we have seen some improvements but there are no improvements in foreign policy," Garibashvili said.

"Russia has signed a treaty with Abkhazia and [South] Ossetia and we see these as a step towards annexation."