Georgia is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its independence from the former Soviet Union and the eighth anniversary of the Rose Revolution. At a recent White House meeting with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, President Barack Obama said Georgia should be extraordinarily proud of the progress that it has made in building a sovereign and democratic country. "One of the first things I did was express my appreciation for the institution-building that's been taking place in Georgia, the importance of making sure that minorities are respected; the importance of a police and system of rule of law that is being observed – the kinds of institution-building that is going to make an enormous difference in the future of not just this generation of Georgians but future generations of Georgians." Both leaders discussed how to strengthen the economic relationship between Georgia and the United States. While Georgia has made strides in expanding economic growth, more work can be done. The United States would like to help with that progress.