Bush gets hero's welcome in Albania

Postage stamps with US President George W. Bush's face on them are pictured in Tirana, Albania, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

US George W. Bush, receiving a hero's welcome as the first American president to visit Albania, said yesterday there cannot be endless dialogue about achieving independence for Serbia's province of Kosovo.

"Sooner rather than later you've got to say `Enough's enough. Kosovo's independent,'" Bush said during a news conference with the prime minister of Albania.

Bush's for statehood was aimed at Russia and others that object to Kosovo's independence. Standing alongside Albanian 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.

The issue of independence for Kosovo is one of the issues on which the US and Russia disagree.

Russia, an ally of Serbia, contends independence would set a dangerous precedent for the world's other breakaway regions.

The US and key European countries that support Kosovo's independence are trying to narrow differences with Russia over the future of the province, which has been administered by the UN since a 1998-1999 war between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian rebels.

Last month, the US and European nations introduced a revised UN 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.

Berisha 93 percent of his country's people support NATO membership for Albania.

Bush 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.

When Bush arrived for his brief visit thousands gathered in a downtown square to see him and first lady Laura Bush.

Banners "Proud to be Partners" and billboards said "President Bush in Albania Making History."

Red-white-and-blue top hats with stars on top were passed out to well-wishers.

Albania such an affinity for America that it issued three postage stamps with Bush's picture on and renamed a street in front of parliament in his honor.