14 Years Since First American President Landed in Albania
Channel: ADN Channel
Date: 2021-06-10

President George W. Bush has become the first President of the United States of America to pay a visit to Albania. 14 years ago, exactly on June 10, 2007, Bush and his wife, Laura, were received at Rinas Airport by the then Albanian Foreign Minister, Lulzim Basha. 

Bush met at the Palace of Brigades with the President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu. Albanian President Moisiu awarded his American counterpart the highest decoration "Flag Order", for his contribution in support of the Albanian cause. 

The American President in a joint conference with the then Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, praised the high level of relations between Albania and the United States. He said he believed that the plan of the UN special envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, for supervised independence, was the right solution for Kosovo, emphasizing that he would work to convince all Security Council countries and Serbia to this thing. Bush also praised religious tolerance in Albania. 

"I expressed the desire for Albania to join NATO, I am a supporter of this desire," said the American president. 

During his stay in Tirana, Bush spoke to Albanian troops, an expression of gratitude for Albania that has contributed militarily to Afghanistan and Iraq. 

"I told the troops that you are respected by our military as well-trained and courageous soldiers," Bush said. 

He encouraged Albanian politicians to work together to meet the standards of NATO membership. 

"Politicians need to work together to achieve these standards, to set aside political change," he said. 

Bush met in Fushë-Krujë a group of Albanian businessmen who had received financial support from the US Development Agency. 

After the meeting, Bush went out of protocol on the main Fushë-Krujë road and met many enthusiastic citizens.