[A-List] Bush Urges "Independence" for Kosovo

[Omahkohkiaayo_ipoyi <omahkohkiaayo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bush Urges Independence for Kosovo
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours ago

TIRANA, Albania - President Bush, getting a hero's welcome as the first
American president to visit this Balkan nation, said Sunday that there
cannot be endless dialogue about achieving independence for neighboring
Kosovo.

"At some point in time _ sooner rather than later _ you've got to say
`Enough is enough. Kosovo is independent' and that's the position we've
taken," Bush said during a news conference with the prime minister of this
tiny, impoverished country.

Bush's press for statehood was aimed at Russia and others that object to
Kosovo's independence. Standing alongside Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Bush
said any extension of talks on Kosovo must have "certain independence" as
the goal.

In response to Albania's push for NATO membership, Bush said additional
political and military reforms were needed before that could be considered
_ something the country's leaders said they understood.

"We are determined to take any decision, adopt any law, undertake any
reform that would make Albania suitable to receive the invitation" to join
the western military alliance, Berisha said.

When Bush arrived for his brief visit, the hills overlooking the capital
boomed as military cannons fired a 21-gun salute, and thousands gathered in
a downtown square on a brilliantly sunny day to see him and first lady
Laura Bush.

Huge banners proclaimed "Proud to be Partners" and billboards said
"President Bush in Albania Making History." Red-white-and-blue paper top
hats with stars on top were passed out to well-wishers.

Albania also issued three postage stamps with Bush's picture and the Statue
of Liberty, and renamed a street in front of parliament in his honor.

Berisha said Bush's visit was historic. "Among us is the greatest and most
distinguished guest we have ever had in all times, the President of the
United States of America, the leading country of the free world," he said.

Bush said he was proud to be the first sitting U.S. president to visit. "I
love to come to countries that are working hard to establish the
institutions necessary for a democracy to survive," he said.

Albania, a former communist country, was ruled for four decades from the
end of World War II by dictator Enver Hoxha. He oversaw the construction of
more than 600,000 concrete, pillbox bunkers as lookouts and gun
emplacements out of paranoia about being invaded. Hoxha also discouraged
people from leaving or admitting foreigners, saying Albania was paradise.
He died in 1985 and Albania emerged from isolation in 1990. It remains one
of Europe's poorest countries.

The issue of independence for the Serbian province of Kosovo is another
issue on which the U.S. and Russia disagree.

Russia, an ally of Serbia, contends independence for Kosovo would set a
dangerous precedent for the world's other breakaway regions. Serbia also
opposes statehood for Kosovo, which it sees as the heart of its historic
homeland.

The U.S. and key European countries that support Kosovo independence are
trying to narrow differences with Russia over the future of Kosovo, which
has been administered by the U.N. since a 1999 war between Serb forces and
ethnic Albanian rebels. The U.N. Security Council is divided over the
issue.

Last month, the U.S. and European nations introduced a revised U.N.
resolution supporting independence for Kosovo under international
supervision, but it was immediately rejected by Russia _ which hinted it
would veto the measure.

The new draft addressed Russia's concern that Kosovo's multiethnic
character is preserved, but left out Russia's main proposal for new
negotiations between the province's majority ethnic Albanians, who demand
independence, and its minority Serbs, who want to remain part of Serbia.

"I happen to believe it's important to push the process along," Bush said.
"The time is now. ... Secretary (of State Condoleezza) 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."

Russia also opposes NATO's spread into eastern Europe, and is concerned
about the prospect that its neighbors Ukraine and Georgia may be brought
into the western military alliance.

Berisha said 90 percent of his country's people support NATO membership for
Albania.

Bush said he commended Berisha on Albania's progress on reforming its
defense forces and meeting performance-based standards required for
membership. "I look forward to welcoming you sometime into NATO," he said.

But he said additional political and military reforms were needed, along
with more progress in fighting organized crime and corruption. Berisha said
he understood and is committed to making the changes.

"I said, 'We're committed to help you,'" Bush said.

In saluting Albania's democracy, Bush praised it as a country that has
"cast off the shackles of a very oppressive society and is now showing the
world what's possible."

During the visit, Bush met with Albanian President Alfred Moisiu and
greeted troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Albania recently
decided to triple its deployment in Afghanistan to 140 troops. It also has
about 120 troops in Iraq _ a presence that Moisiu says will not end as long
as Americans are engaged there.

Bush also had lunch with the prime ministers of Albania, Macedonia and
Croatia, which hope to join NATO next year.



 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos? 
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/