(30 Jan 2012)
1. Wide of US President Barack Obama welcoming Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to the Oval Office at the White House
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President:
"What we've agreed to is a high level dialogue between our two countries about how we can continue to strengthen trade relations between our two countries, including the possibility of a free trade agreement. Obviously there is a lot of work to be done and there are going to be a lot of options that are going to be explored. The key point though is we think it is a win-win for the United States and for Georgia."
3. Mid, pull out as both leaders shake hands
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgian President:
"Obviously there is a very good understanding at a number of levels, you know, we are grateful for your support for our NATO aspirations. We are very grateful for elevating our defence cooperation further, and talking about Georgia's self-defence capabilities and developing it because that is also of course an important message back to my nation. It is very important that you mentioned obviously prospect of free trade agreement with Georgia, because that is going to attract lots of additional activity to my country and basically helping our nation building process."
5. Wide, Oval Office meeting, reporters
STORYLINE:
United States President Barack Obama on Monday raised the possibility of developing a free trade agreement with Georgia, during an Oval Office meeting with the country's president, Mikhail Saakashvili.
President Obama welcomed his Georgian counterpart as the two countries celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
"Obviously there is a lot of work to be done and there are going to be a lot of options that are going to be explored," Obama said with regard to trade issues.
"The key point though is we think it is a win-win for the United States and for Georgia."
Saakashvili thanked the United States for its support, and said he too looked forward to developing closer trade ties.
"It is very important that you mentioned obviously prospect of free trade agreement with Georgia, because that is going to attract lots of additional activity to my country and basically helping our nation building process."
Earlier, White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Obama would, during the meeting, reaffirm US support for Georgia in a territorial dispute with Russia.
It was a reference to the dispute over South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, that prompted a brief war between Russia and the former Soviet republic in 2008.
The dispute sent US relations with Russia plummeting, and was a main reason that Obama tried to "re-set" the overall US relationship with Russia.
The Oval Office sit-down was also expected to cover security issues, and Georgia's upcoming election.
Georgia is looking to Obama for a road map to NATO membership, something Russia opposes.
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