Ms. Kos is free to repeat these colorful expressions, but it is better to be a candidate country—even if only on paper—than to be a state merely on paper – Shalva Papuashvili

I believe it is better for us to be a candidate country—even if only on paper—than to be a state merely on paper. Had we heeded Brussels, Georgia would today be a state only on paper, for a number of reasons. – This statement was made by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.

According to him, European Commissioner Marta Kos is free to repeat her colorful expressions as often as she likes. "Had we heeded Brussels and escalated tensions with Russia, Georgia would have suffered as much economic damage as Moldova has; in all likelihood, we would have entered a new military conflict with Russia and become a war-torn country, just like Ukraine. Our 'greatest sin' in the eyes of Brussels is that we do not follow their harmful advice, and the Georgian people have benefited as a result. Had we listened to them, Georgia would exist as a state only on paper today. Ms. Kos may repeat such colorful expressions, but it is better to be a candidate country only on paper than a state only on paper," Papuashvili stated.

In response to a question from a Georgian media journalist, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said: "As you know, Georgia is a candidate country only on paper; I regret this. I would wish for Georgia—with the immense support of the Georgian people—to be at the same level as Moldova and Ukraine today."