Obama and Saakashvili meet in Washington

US President Barack Obama thanked Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for attending the memorial service for diplomat Richard Holbrooke as the two leaders met in Washington, AFP reports.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with Saakashvili after the service.
"The leaders discussed Georgia's efforts to advance its economic development and increase trade," the White House statement said. "They also discussed security challenges in the Caucasus and the work of (international) forces in Afghanistan, where brave Georgians stand shoulder to shoulder with American forces".

On Wednesday, Saakashvili met with Republican US House Speaker John Boehner, who praised Georgia's help in the US-led global war on terrorism, including in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Georgia, a former Soviet republic, currently has 925 troops stationed in Afghanistan.