Despite war, still ongoing global economy crisis and deepening of unemployment problem in recent months, now it is “a turning point” for Georgia’s economy, President Saakashvili said on October 24.

He was speaking in an outdoor ceremony of opening a new terminal in port of Poti. In his speech Saakashvili spoke much about Georgia’s importance as a transit route. Standing in front of a large-scale map of Eurasian continent he was explaining importance of Georgia’s geographical location.

“Georgia is the only route to Europe for six landlocked states in Central and Caspian region and the shortest route from north China to most of the European destination,” Saakashvili said.

“One can not bypass Georgia. Cargo should either go via Russia, but this route is risky, full of corruption and full of political risks; or the second option is a direct route via Georgia. And if someone wants to know why this port was bombed last year and if someone wants to know why [Russia] troops are stationed here [referring to breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia], one should look at this [map],” he said.

He also said in his speech that Georgia “should not be an ordinary eastern European country.”

“We do not have time and luxury to simply follow this ordinary route,” Saakashvili said. “Georgia has more than those countries [in Eastern Europe]. We have very wealthy neighbors – they have gas, oil… But we have what other countries of the region do not have – we have lowest taxes.”