PM Bidzina Ivanishvili said there would be no change in Georgia’s foreign policy priorities in “near future” and added having good relations simultaneously both with NATO and Russia was possible and named Armenia as an example of it.

When asked during an interview with the RFE/RL Armenian service on January 17, when PM Ivanishvili visited Yerevan, if Georgia’s foreign policy priorities would change, he responded: “In the near future it’s hardly [possible], but in general countries develop, people develop, society develops and they change priorities, but I do not think that in the near future we will be changing our priorities.”

“We have stated about our priorities for multiple times – that’s Europe and Euro-Atlantic alliance; we will unwaveringly follow this path,” he said.

“But in parallel to it a question arises: is it possible to combine restoration of friendly relations with Russia and at the same time to have good relations with NATO and to aspire towards NATO and to have good relations with the United States and NATO-member states? I think that here Armenia is a good example; Armenia gives a good example for Georgia and it can be a source of envy in positive sense,” he said.

“Armenia is on excellent terms with Russia and has friendly relations with [Russia] while also being on excellent terms with the United States and with other NATO-member states. So I think it’s possible and I think that we have to and I believe that we will combine it,” Ivanishvili said.