Already before the visit took place, it seemed like Georgia was receiving immediate gratification. Literally, Tbilisi painted the town in preparation for Bush’s 20-hour stay in the city. All along the itinerary of American President’s planned route, buildings that hadn’t been painted for over a decade were splashed with bright pastel shades. The roads designated for the motorcade were repaired and resurfaced. More city maintenance was undertaken during the three weeks prior to the visit than during the previous 15 years. But not everyone was happy with the transformation, some complained that the city was wasting needed funds and just putting on airs. The mayor of Tbilisi, Zurab Chiabirashvili, promised that the work would continue long after Bush will have gone. One week after the historical visit some workers can still be seen, but substantially less than before.

According to a press release published by the American Embassy in Tbilisi, the purpose of the visit was to highlight the great strides toward democracy that the Georgian people have taken since the Rose Revolution. For the Georgians, the fact that Bush came at all was a cause to celebrate. Although Georgia is not the first former Soviet Republic to host an American President, the fact that Tbilisi earned a place on his itinerary symbolizes that the country has achieved the transition from ‘a former Soviet republic’ to a country of its own standing.

Equally important was the message Bush delivered to the Georgian people. While addressing a crowd of over 100,000 Georgians from throughout the country, Bush spoke about the hard road ahead towards stable democracy with protected rights and freedoms for every citizen, which was still to be completed. Georgians interviewed after the speech were impressed by Bush’s words. However, his statements have the power to create an effect that lasts much longer than the ride home from Freedom Square. After seven decades of communism and over a decade of chaos, the average Georgian does not understand that democracy is about more than just President Saakashvili and his parliament. Bush’s speech shed light on the meaning of democracy - hard work and commitment from every citizen for the good of the country.

Another highlight of Bush’s visit was his pledge to help to resolve the outstanding problems within Georgia -namely peaceful negotiations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as to put pressure on Moscow to close the two remaining Russian bases. By accenting peaceful means of resolving issues, Bush sent an invaluable signal to the Georgian authorities. He also gave the Georgians hope that the Russian bases would finally be closed and Russian troops would leave. While it might be risky for the Georgians to overbalance their expectations on behalf of the United States, the euphoria that Georgia has developed after this visit could help to balance the sensation of inertia that was gripping the country.

Bush’s declared support for Georgia also boosted Georgia’s image in the international sphere. While some times ago potential investors from Europe and America thought of Georgia as of a haven for terrorists and kidnappers, now they increasingly perceive Georgia as a country stable enough to insure the American President’s safe visit. That is vital for the future of Georgian business and privatization; without new investors the country would not dispose of means necessary to rebuild factories and restore the job market.

President George W. Bush’s visit was more than just a symbolic gesture to Saakashvili and the Rose Revolution. It was a chance for Georgia to celebrate the progress it has made over the past 18 months -and take a look at the work ahead. It was also a reminder that Georgians can rely on their new Western allies when seeking for assistance to deal with their serious internal problems such as the on-going crises in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. By bringing the world’s attention to the tiny country of Georgia, Bush also gave the reforms a second wind and reminded the Georgians that the sacrifices they have made to create a stable country were not in vain -but their work is not complete yet.