President Bush Holds Joint Press Conference with Albanian Prime Minister

According to a press release on the White House's website, President Bush and Albanian Prime Minister Berisha held a joint press conference Sunday. The conference focused on many issues. The main subjects discussed at the conference were: Albania's aspirations for NATO membership, Albanian support for the U.S. war on terror, improvements Albanians have accomplished, and independence for Kosovo.

U.S. President George W. Bush received a warm welcome when he arrived in Albania. Unlike the frosty response he received when touring other European countries Bush was greeted with hugs, handshakes, and shouts of affection from Albanians. Albania is currently working hard to establish and strengthen democracy, and most Albanians appear to idolize the United States and its leaders because of the countrie's democratic government. The United States has also been a great source of support for Albania in the past.

Prime Minister Berisha spoke of Albania's desire to join NATO. President Bush opined that he felt Albania's desire was entirely possible, provided Albania continued to make progress on issues such as defense and reforms. Albania has accomplished much in the way of reforms. Once the only official atheist state is has become a model of religious tolerance. Its economy is also improving due to decreased corruption and embracing of free markets.

According to the White House's press release President Bush made the following comments regarding Albania's desired NATO membership: "And so I talked to the Prime Minister, first of all, about my deep desire for Albania to join NATO. I support it. I also told him that there needs to be additional political and military reforms, progress against organized crime and corruption. And he understands that. He said, we're committed. That's what the Prime Minister said -- Albania is committed to meeting those standards. And I said, we're committed to help you."

President Bush also thanked Albania for its support for the U.S. war on terror. Albania currently has 120 elite soldiers stationed in Iraq, a figure expected to double this summer. Albanian's who have experienced terrorism in the form of ethnic cleansing can relate to the drive to stomp out terrorism.

Prime Minister Berisha had this to say about Albanian support for the war on terror: "Albanians are very proud about the friendship with the U.S.A., and the cooperation they have with your nation in the war against international terrorism, of their presence on your side in Iraq, Afghanistan. I assure you that they will be on your side wherever their modest, but resolute contribution is needed against international terrorism, this most dangerous enemy of free people.", according to the White House's press release.

A sizable portion of the conference focused on the proposed independence for Kosovo. Kosovo is a region technically located in Serbia, but the majority of the population is ethnic Albanian. Ethnic Albanian's in Kosovo suffered terribly under the rule of Milosevic who purged many Albanians from their homes. Many atrocities were committed and Albanian's murdered in what was called "ethnic cleansing".

There is currently a move in the United Nations to declare Kosovo independent. Russia has threatened to mire the U.N. by vetoing the proposal despite widespread support for the region's Independence.

President Bush took care to point out that more negotiations were needed. He claimed that the best resolution would be consensus from everyone involved, including Russia. However, Bush claimed that the independence process needed to be started and that if consensus proved unreachable another means would have to be found.

According to the press release, President Bush made these comments concerning Kosovo's independence: "the issue is whether independence or not; we strongly believe in independence. And then the question is, the diplomatic moves necessary to achieve that. I happen to believe it's important to push the process along, the time is now. And by that I meant that Secretary Rice will be moving hard to see if we can't reach an agreement. And if not, we're going to have to move. Independence is the goal, and that's what the people of Kosovo need to know."

The United States support for Kosovo's independence is the latest in a string of issues, including the poisoning of Russian expatriate Alexander Litivenko and the Russia's opposition to the U.S.'s proposed missile defense system, that is quickly chilling once friendly relations between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sources:
The White House