Albanian communists to protest Bush’s visit

TIRANA, May 23 – Albanian communists said Wednesday they will protest U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit to the country June 10, according to a daily newspaper.
In an interview with Gazeta Shqiptare, Hysni Milloshi, a leader of the communist party, said the protest would oppose Bush’s policy on Iraq.
“We are against Bush’s arrival to Albania. He should not come to our country for any reason at all,” Milloshi was quoted.
Milloshi also called Bush a ‘fascist’ and the ‘world’s greatest terrorist,” and he said those words were said by the American people themselves. Milloshi said, however, he was aware that other people in Albania would welcome Bush with flowers and he did not consider that a surprise. “A part of Albanians welcomed Benito Mussolini with flowers when fascist Italy occupied our country (in World War II),” he said.
In contrast, the Albanian government and other politicians consider Bush’s visit to Albania as historic. They also hope it will be a clear signal that western nations will accept Albania’s membership into NATO, expected next year.
It is expected Bush’s agenda will include discussions about Kosova. Albania, like the U.S., supports the proposal by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari to create an independent Kosova.