President Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the former Soviet Republic of Georgia today where he took part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

Bush was greeted at Tbilisi airport by Mikhail Saakashvili, the pro-western president of Georgia. Saakashvili took power 18 months ago during the 'Rose Revolution' and has attempted to minimize Russian influence since taking office.

Russia still has approximately 3,000 troops at military bases which date back to the Soviet era. Saakashvili has asked Moscow to remove them, calling it an occupation of his country. Thus far, Russia has refused.

Giga Bokeria, a Georgian parliamentarian and close Saakashvili associate told Reuters, 'This visit means a lot. It is a message that we are not alone in our struggle to become a decent democracy … a sovereign country on which no one can impose their will. I am talking about Russia here,' he said.

Saakashvili has his work cut out for him reforming the economy of this nation of five million people. Corruption ran rampant under the leadership of the last, pro-Russian regime led by Eduard Shevardnadze. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the economy in Georgia collapsed and has never fully recovered.

Bush is scheduled to remain in Georgia overnight and have official meetings with President Saakashvili and other prominent Georgian leaders on Tuesday. Bush is expected to promote democracy for former Soviet Republics in his speech on Tuesday.