Brussels, 14/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Tuesday, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, met with the President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili. At a press conference after the meeting, Barroso said he had repeated the EU's strong political, financial and technical support for Georgia and noted the importance attached by the EU to the international talks on security and stability in South Ossetia and Abkhazia due to kick off in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday 15 October 2008 where one of the priorities, he said, would be to discuss the return of refugees forced to leave the two break-away republics. Barroso said that the EU was prepared to announce funding of up to €500 million for the reconstruction and economic development of Georgia at the international donor conference in Brussels on 22 October 2008. The Commission is preparing to sign a visa facilitation deal and a free trade zone with Georgia, added Barroso. Saakashvili said that the free trade zone would send a 'good signal' to investors. He hopes that the donor conference will raise up to a billion dollars. (H.B. trans fl)