(20 Mar 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Mid Rice enters room and shakes hands with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Rice then shakes hands with members of Georgian delegation
2. Mid Rice and Saakashvili sitting down with delegation, zoom in to Saakashvili, pan to Rice, pull out to mid shot
3. Wide of Rice and Saakashvili, zoom in
STORYLINE:
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili met with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday as part of his visit to Washington.
On Wednesday, Saakashvili met at the White House with President George W. Bush, who assured the Georgian President that he will press for Georgia's inclusion in a NATO membership track at the alliance's summit next month.
Bush has been a strong supporter of Georgia's aspirations, but he is expected to meet resistance from some European leaders, including Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel.
Georgia's chances of joining a programme that would prepare it for eventual membership will hinge on winning unanimous support of the 26 member countries of NATO.
Merkel recently signalled her opposition, arguing against membership for countries "that are entangled in regional conflicts."
That was a reference to differences with Russia over Georgia's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Both regions have had de-facto independence since wars in the 1990s, when Russian peacekeepers were deployed to observe cease-fires.
No country recognises their governments, although Moscow has tacitly supported their autonomy by granting most of their residents Russian passports and maintaining trade ties.
Russia has been vexed by Saakashvili's efforts to integrate closely into the West and join NATO.
Saakashvili, who has a law degree from Columbia University's law school, said on Wednesday in remarks to the Atlantic Council that NATO countries should not give Russia a veto or try to appease Moscow by blocking Georgia from joining the alliance.
Thursday is Saakashvili's last day in Washington.
Following his meeting with Secretary Rice, he planned to meet later in the day with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
Both Gates and Rice have just returned from Moscow.
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