Albanians hope Bush’s visit will help resolve Kosova’s status

TIRANA, June 4 – Results from a recently released poll indicates Albanians think that the June 10 visit by U.S. President George W. Bush will help resolve the status of Kosova. Albanians also believe America is their country’s strongest and most reliable ally.
The poll, conducted by the Citizens Advocacy office with some 1,300 people in Tirana, Durres, Shkodra and Vlora, indicated that 61.7 percent of those questioned considered Bush’s visit will have a direct impact on Kosova’s status.
Some 67 percent of those polled thought that the U.S. would recognize Kosova’s independence, even if the resolution of the Security Council would be vetoed by Russia, according to the poll made public Monday.
Seventy four percent of Albanians polled also believed that Bush’s visit is a signal that their country will soon receive full NATO membership.
However, among those polled, many people were not clear what the alliance was for or where it is based.
Some 61 percent of those questioned believed that the U.S. was the best protector of their interests, followed by Italy, and then Turkey.
Bush is expected to arrive in Tirana next Sunday in the first visit by a U.S president to Tirana. This visit is considered as historic by Albanians.
Bush will meet with President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and also prime ministers from Croatia and Macedonia, who are also hoping to receive full NATO membership next year.
Albania is looking to become a full NATO member and, in that regard, has sent small army units to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Fifty nine percent of Albanians, according to the poll, believe that this military participation helps in its ties with the Unites States.
Some 30 percent of Albanians said they will go to the square to follow Bush’s visit while 56 percent will follow it through media outlets, which is quite a difference compared to 1991 when the first U.S. senior official, Secretary of State James baker, visited the post-communist country.