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Southern Strategy Group Aids White House in Russia

COLUMBIA, S.C., April 6, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- DeWitt Zemp, co-owner and partner of the Southern Strategy Group ofSouth Carolina, a government, legislative affairs and corporate consulting firm, was named head of the Presidential Advance Delegation supporting President Bush's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi,Russia. The meeting between President Putin and President Bush are wrapping up today in Russia. Bush also met briefly with President-elect Dmitry Medvedev. Putin is leaving office in May; Bush's term ends in January 2009.

For over 20 years, DeWitt has worked in various levels of Government and has led dozens of Presidential Advance delegations around the world, most recently in theMiddle East, and this week inRussia. As the NATO talks ended, inBucharest, Romania, NATO countries unanimously endorsed Bush administration plans for installing a missile defense system in alliance countries inEurope, but delayed entreaties to extend membership of the alliance to the former Soviet republics ofUkraine andGeorgia, two key allies of the West that President Bush supported.

Bush had pressed the cases for former Soviet republics, leading to a sharp difference with key alliesGermany andFrance, which raisedRussia's concerns about NATO expanding directly into the heart of the former Soviet empire. President Bush surprised Russian Officials in bothWashington andRussia by accepting President Putin's invitation to meet in Sochi for further discussions on NATO's expansion and U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile shield inPoland and theCzech Republic. Bush and Putin have been at odds over NATO's expanding membership and a U.S.-based missile defense plan in Europe. "I think a lot of people inEurope would have a deep sigh of relief if we're able to reach an accord on missile defense. And hopefully we can," President Bush said.

Sochi is also the site chosen for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The U.S. intends to deploy 10 long-range, ground-based missiles defense interceptor inPoland and a mid-course radar in theCzech Republic, which will strengthen transatlantic security and counter the evolving Middle Eastern ballistic missile threat against rogue states such asIran andNorth Korea as well as non-state actors such as al-Qaeda and Hezbollah.

Southern Strategy Group ofSouth Carolina is one of over 17 offices located in 15 states from coast to coast. The firm specializes in legislative affairs, government to corporate relations, Legislative and Executive Branch advocacy to all levels of State and Federal Government.

"DeWitt's background has allowed our firm to implement its international strategy throughout the last year. This is extremely important because as South Carolina and the national economy faces tighter budget constraints, firms such as ours, will look to play a pivotal role in reaching overseas markets," stated Brandon D. Dermody, Zemp's business partner.

For Questions please Contact: Lindsey Craig

                                  (Craig@sostrategy.com)
                                  803-733-2255

SOURCE Southern Strategy Group

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Southern Strategy Group Aids White House in Russia