Readout of Vice President Biden’s Meeting with President Saakashvili of Georgia

Vice President Biden met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili today while the two leaders were in Rome to attend the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. Vice President Biden and President Saakashvili discussed our shared interest in security, democracy and prosperity in Georgia. Vice President Biden reiterated the United States’ support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Vice President expressed his appreciation to President Saakashvili for Georgia’s significant new contribution of forces to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, which will make Georgia the largest non-NATO contributor to ISAF. The Vice President also expressed support for the Swiss-mediated talks between Georgia and Russia regarding Russia’s candidacy for membership in the World Trade Organization.