“I was disappointed by not granting candidate status to Georgia as a citizen, but it was not a mistake,” said President Salome Zourabichvili at the meeting with journalists.

President deems the fact as a “warning that Georgia has much to do.” She noted that the latest steps taken by Russia toward Georgia made the European Union acknowledge that Russia plays with Georgia.

According to Salome Zourabichvili, those whom she had talked with, realize what consequences the second rejection might bring. EU heads understand the strategic part of the issue.

She described Russia’s latest moves toward Georgia as a “soft power” game that the Georgian government may not understand, unlike the EU.

“Therefore, there might be a real chance, but we also have to give them something in their hands. This depends on the government but not only. There are people, civil society, the President, and political parties. We all have our word to say to persuade the EU that it will be a correct decision.

We all know that these recommendations and requirements will not go anywhere. In fact, this is what we need in order to, once and forever, drive the country out of the Soviet mentality and structures. They tell us what we have to do. But we have to do it for ourselves,” she said.