GRAMMAR: TENSES IN NEWS-STORIES

Read the article, open the brackets using the correct verb-forms. Write 7 questions to the article. Translate the text into Russian in writing. Georgia election: Rival leaders agree on Nato goal The president of Georgia and the incoming prime minister have agreed Nato membership remains a strategic goal, despite their differences. Mikheil Saakashvili, whose party (1 defeat) at last week's election, (2 shake) hands with Bidzina Ivanishvili for the cameras but (3 show) little warmth. It is the first time the two officials (4 meet) since last year, when Mr Ivanishvili (5 vow) to oust the ruling party. Under Mr Saakashvili, Georgia (6 become) a strong partner of Nato. It (7 send) troops to serve alongside Nato forces in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Ivanishvili, a tycoon who (8 make) his fortune in Russia, (9 portray) by the ruling party during the election campaign as being pro-Moscow. Russia (10 not have) diplomatic ties with Georgia since the two countries' brief war over the breakaway Georgian territory of South Ossetia in August 2008. Mr Ivanishvili said that Georgia (11 definitely, be able) to become a member of Nato soon. He added that during the meeting they (12 talk) about foreign policy and their visions. Mr Saakashvili said that he, as president, (13 ensure) that the transfer of government functions (14 go) "without any excesses". Georgia's chances of joining Nato (15 damage) by the war with Russia. The alliance (16 not want) to accept a new member that might drag it into an armed conflict with Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow that while Russia (17 hope) for a normalisation of relations with Georgia, the status of South Ossetia and fellow breakaway territory Abkhazia (18 not be) negotiable. Russia (19 recognize) both territories as independent states. The new Georgian government is expected (20 take) office later this month.