30 March 2016•Update: 04 April 2016
By Davit Kachkachishvili
TBILISI, Georgia
British Foreign Secretary said on Wednesday that Russia ignored international laws and norms, resulting in a threat to all.
Addressing in a joint press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in the capital Tbilisi, Philip Hammond offered support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
"Russia ignores the laws and norms of the international system which is a threat for us all," said Hammond, pointing to Russia’s involvement in Ukraine and Georgia.
Kvirikashvili said that Georgia's territorial integrity issue with Russia should be resolved in a peaceful manner.
After the Georgian-Russian war in 2008, the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were recognized as separate republics by Russia. Georgia considers both to be occupied by Moscow.
Observing that Russia shared similar concerns, for instance with regards to Daesh, Hammond called on Russia to obey international rules in order to better fight terrorism.
Additionally, Hammond said that Georgia had greatly progressed in implementing economic and political reforms, which is "widely acknowledged worldwide”.
"Georgia is the country where making business is easiest and the country also is one of the leaders in fighting corruption,” Hammond said. "This increases the potential of Georgia as a hub connecting Europe and Asia.”
The U.K. was Georgia’s second largest investor country in 2015, and the trading volume between the two countries increased by 41 percent in the past year.
