WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (AFP) - President George W. Bush and US-backed President Mikhail Saakashvili on Tuesday discussed Tbilisi's handling of political reforms and its prickly pro-Russian separatist regions, the White House said.
Bush also reiterated "our condolences on last week's death of the prime minister, who was a champion of freedom," spokesman Scott McClellan said, referring to the February 3 demise of Zurab Zhvania.
"The two presidents had a good discussion about Georgia's ongoing efforts to advance democratic reforms, to fight corruption and to expand freedom for the Georgian people," McClellan told reporters.
"They also discussed the Georgian government's serious settlement plan to resolve its separatist conflict in south Ossetia by peaceful means," he said.
Zhvania had been the key interlocutor with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two separatist regions that the president has promised to bring back under Tbilisi's control.
Last summer, fighting broke out on the border between Georgia and South Ossetia between Georgian and Ossetian forces.
"The two leaders underscored their commitment to deepen our country's cooperation in pursuit of freedom, prosperity and peace, in the region and beyond," said McClellan.
02/15/2005 15:07 GMT - AFP