ALBANIA: Albanians remember U.S. President George W. Bush's visit in 2007 as he prepares to leave office

Record ID: 267582

  • Title: ALBANIA: Albanians remember U.S. President George W. Bush's visit in 2007 as he prepares to leave office
  • Date: 18th January 2009
  • Summary: FUSHE KRUJE, ALBANIA (JANUARY 16, 2009) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ALONG STREET BAKERY WHERE U.S PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH MET OWNERS AND STAFF PLAQUE READING: ON JUNE 10, 2007, U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND HIS WIFE, LAURA, VISITED THIS BAKERY MRS. KLARITA TOPI, CO-OWNER OF THE BAKERY, SELLING BREAD (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) MRS. KLARITA TOPI, CO-OWNER OF THE BAKERY, SAYING: "The visit of Bush was very special for Fushe Kruje, it was a blessing for our business, the people of Fushe Kruje and Albania. We also preserve his gifts and letters with fondness."
  • Embargoed: 2nd February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA62R6IC32YDG60MN6QJSZ5VYJT
  • Story Text: Many beyond U.S. shores may welcome the end of George W. Bush's presidency, but in zealously pro-American Albania, he is feted as a hero.
    Albania, once an isolated state, has blossomed since the fall of communism in 1990 and now embraces all things Western.
    Its people reserve special affection for the United States, which they credit not only with ending their Cold War isolation but also for leading NATO in 1999 to rescue the Albanians of neighboring Kosovo from "ethnic cleansing" by Serbia.
    Bush backed Kosovo's independence during the visit and urged the Kosovo Albanians to be patient. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo's independence in February 2008.
    People in the small Albanian town of Fushe-Kruje said they were sad to see him leave and cherished the memory of his visit in June 2007.
    Waving and blowing kisses, a shirt-sleeved Bush visited Klarita Topi's bakery, where pictures of his visit hang on the wall.

    "The visit of Bush was very special for Fushe Kruje, it was a blessing for our business, the people of Fushe Kruje and Albania. We also preserve his gifts and letters with fondness," she said.
    Arjan Kamani, co-owner of the shop, remembered the surprise and emotion that Bush's visit caused.

    "We prepared two nice cakes, one with the Albanian and the other with the U.S. flag. The President liked them a lot and he asked for a knife after meeting all of us. But we were so overcome with surprise from his visit that we could not find the knife," he said.
    Across the road at the "George W. Bush" cafe, owner Festim Cela and his customers watch television pictures of Bush's farewell speech the week before Barack Obama succeeds him.
    Below the TV is a table where Bush sat to discuss a U.S.-funded micro-loan programme with a baker, a barber, a tailor and a shepherd when he visited Fushe-Kruje in 2007.
    The chairs bear a copper plate with names of Bush and his wife Laura.
    Topi's bakery and Cela's cafe have turned into landmarks for Albanians and foreigners keen to see places Bush visited.
    Topi, who received a loan under the U.S. programme, said Albanian migrant workers returning home came to see the shop. Italian tourists thought the photos were fakes.
    While meeting the crowd, Bush stopped and embraced 70-year-old Thomaidha Kaziu.

    "I felt very happy when I was told President Bush said I resembled his mother. Since that day, everyone calls me Bush's 'mother'," she said.
    The visit was also marked by reports Bush lost or had his watch stolen there but television pictures showed he had given it to a bodyguard.
    Bush, the first U.S. President to visit the ex-communist state, dived into a throng of waiting Albanian fans and enjoyed a rock-star reception.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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