USA Today: “Georgia defence minister compares EU integration to soccer”

Do you know what football has to do with Georgia’s European Union (EU) integration?

You will find the answer in an article published by American newspaper USA Today.

The article says Georgia's Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli compared her country's interest in closer integration with the EU to the game of soccer on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"During Soviet times, Georgia had very good football players but they all played for the Soviet Union. Something like eight out of the 11 players who started for the national team were from Georgia," Khidasheli told USA TODAY.

"After Georgia left the Soviet Union (in 1989), our teams had the option to join leagues in Asia and we would have won everything.”

"But we took the decision to join Europe's Champion's League. We want our teams to play Real Madrid or Barcelona even if we sometimes lose."

Khidasheli said the decision illustrated Georgia wan an ambitious country not interested in taking the easy way out.

She made the comparison in response to a question about why the former Soviet republic wanted to join the EU's Schengen Area.

"We have been ready to be part of Europe since the 11th century when we sent our first ambassador to Paris," Khidasheli said.

"We want to be officially and formally part of something that we believe we are part of culturally.”

In the same interview Khidasheli also spoke about Georgia’s NATO aspirations.

Read the full article here: www.usatoday.com.