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President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–President Mikheil Saakashvili says he will grant Georgian citizenship to 3 000 more Georgians living in Turkey.

Saakashvili was visiting the town Sakaria and the village Nusetie on Monday to meet with ethnic Georgians. He recalled that a few weeks ago several thousands of Georgian Turks were granted Georgian citizenship.

“These days 3000 more of our flesh and blood will be granted Georgian citizenship,” he said. “In the next few weeks, thousands more of our fellows, who speaks Georgian, feels Georgian, loves Georgia and wants to somehow help Georgia, all will receive citizenship.”

The president said some people expressed dissatisfaction about his granting citizenship to Turks.

“Come and compete with these Turks in being Georgians and being patriots,” he continued. “These are the last weeks of my presidency, and of course life continues, but granting citizenship is only the prerogative of the president.”

He expressed hope that the next president, who will be elected for a five year term, will continue this, but it may be someone who is against.

“That is why it is an exceptional honor for me to spend my last days, last weeks, what time I have left, to sign with both hands, left and right hand, the decrees to grant you citizenship.”

September 13, the president granted Georgian citizenship to almost 1 000 Turks.