change font size

print version

copyright

Other languages:

Bush: Kosovo will be Independent

10 06 2007  Tirana _ US President George W. Bush said that Kosovo will be independent in one way or the other, after meeting Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha during his visit to Albania on Sunday.

“You get your diplomats working with Russians and EU diplomats to see if there is not a common ground,” said Bush, indicating that if there no compromise on Kosovo’s independence the US may act on its own toward the region.

“If you end up being in a position where you don’t, at some point of time, sooner rather than later, you got to say: that’s enough – Kosovo is independent,” said Bush.

 “What is important for the people of Kosovo is that the USA and Albania strongly support their independence,” Bush said.

“The EU is also very much in favor. They just hope that there is some way that we can reach an accommodation so the transition to the independence will be smooth and easy as possible. But if that becomes as apparent as it’s not going to happen in a relatively quick period of time, in my judgment, we need to put forward the resolution.”

The U.N. Security Council is considering a draft resolution on Kosovo independence prepared by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari. No vote has been taken because of opposition from Russia, which has veto power as a permanent security council member.

Berisha said Bush understands that Kosovo is eager for independence. The Albanian prime minister urged Kosovo’s leadership to be patient.

“I say to the people of Kosovo that their project has full support of President Bush,” Berisha said.

Kosovo is about 90 percent ethnic Albanian but remains formally part of Serbia. Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO ended attacks launched to stop alleged ethnic cleansing of Kosovo’s Albanian population by Serbia.

Bush and his European Union allies failed to find a common approach on Kosovo during the Group of Eight meeting in Germany last week. Kosovo and Albania both expect that Bush will take firmer steps towards the issue, leaving open the possibility that the US may unilaterally recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Bush met with Veton Surroi, a senior ethnic Albanian leader from Kosovo, during the president’s visit to the Czech Republic last week before the G-8 meetings.

Many Kosovars came to Tirana to welcome Bush, hoping that the US will take more concrete steps towards the resolution of Kosovo’s final status. “You know why we’re here”, Nehat, a young Kosovar said. “We’re here to welcome Bush”.

The visit that Berisha rated as Albania’s greatest diplomatic achievement has the full attention of Kosovars as well. Kosovo’s public TV station, RTK, is broadcasting live images from Tirana, while many Kosovo journalists are closely covering the event.

A live debate that took place in Albania’s “Top Channel” TV station was headlined “Bush Declares Kosovo’s Independence” and analysts stated that Sunday’s statements finally clarify the US commitment for creation of a new state in Europe.