"You are our Europeans, and our path to Europe begins right here where we are now, in Anaklia, and very close lies the other side of the Black Sea—Europe, which we will undoubtedly join," said Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, addressing the audience gathered in Zugdidi.

Salome Zurabishvili expressed her joy at starting her regional tour from Zugdidi.

"I am very pleased that my regional tour, so to speak, begins in Zugdidi. For me, this is a great happiness, and not just happiness; in my opinion, it is also very fitting because, after all, Zugdidi is the place in Georgia that is closest to Europe. You are our Europeans, and our path to Europe begins right here where we are now, in Anaklia, and very close lies the other side of the Black Sea—Europe, which we will undoubtedly join," stated Salome Zurabishvili.