Speaker of the House John Boehner released a special statement after the meeting with Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili in Washington. Republican US House Speaker John Boehner thanked Georgian leader for a productive discussion.
Saakashvili became the first foreign leader to meet with Boehner since the Republican from the state of Ohio formally became the third-ranking US elected official last week in the wake of his party`s romp in November 2 elections.
`The Georgian people understand all too well that the rights of a free people can never be taken for granted, and have been an important ally in our campaign against terrorism and radical extremism. We are grateful for their commitment of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we mourn the loss of those Georgians who have given their lives to ensure stability and security for, and to deny malevolent interests sanctuary in, both of those countries.
"In our discussion we also reaffirmed other cherished values, including the role and involvement of citizens in petitioning their government, and the necessity of peaceful resolutions to political conflict,` the statement says.
Within the official visit to Washington, Mikheil Saakashvili discussed bilateral relations with two other congressmen - Mr. David Dreier and Mr. Bill Shuster.
President also met with Senator Joseph Lieberman and awarded him with the Order of Saint George.
