I think that the list of priorities that the European Union expects Georgia to fulfill before Georgia receives the candidate status is very clear. We have passed the situation when promises or slogans are enough, everyone wants to see real steps, reforms and changes, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs told the Georgian editorial office of Voice of America.

To the journalist's question - while the security architecture of Europe is changing, historically neutral countries are joining the military-political alliance, and 20% of Georgia is being occupied by Russia, how are the security risks for Georgia changing and what assistance might it need from NATO - the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia replied that the Georgian government understands the mentioned issue better.

According to him, the risks related to security are very clear - this is the entry of the Russians into the country, which may not be a military risk, although we will never know for sure.

"I am often asked such questions and I understand why. But I cannot answer Georgian, Ukrainian or Moldovan journalists about what I do not know. The government that really understands what help it needs from NATO or the European Union is the government of Georgia, Ukraine or Moldova.

Yes, there are some problems, and we all know that for years they [the Allies] could not agree on a membership action plan (MAP) for [Georgia], because there is no consensus on this in the Alliance. So many tools have been developed for Georgia that I think there are many possibilities to choose the most acceptable one from these proposals.

When it comes to the EU, you know there is a difference: Moldova and Ukraine have become candidates for EU membership, while Georgia has got a European perspective. I think that the list of priorities that the EU expects Georgia to fulfill before Georgia receives the candidate status is very clear. We have passed the situation where promises or slogans are enough, everyone wants to see real steps, reforms and changes.

I spoke with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia within the framework of the UN Assembly and briefly spoke with the Prime Minister, and I can tell you that our message is very clear: we are ready to promote these reforms, these changes, to help in terms of security, but the final decision is yours: what you want. How fast do you want it and what will you do to get it," said Edgars Rinkēvičs.

*The quotes in the article have been double-translated from Georgian and wordings may be inaccurate.