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Skriven 2007-06-01 23:31:10 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0706018) for Fri, 2007 Jun 1
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Interview of the President by Andi Bejtja, Vision Plus TV, Albania
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 1, 2007

Interview of the President by Andi Bejtja, Vision Plus TV, Albania The Map
Room

˙˙White House News


May 31, 2007

3:37 P.M. EDT

Q Mr. President, first of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity you
give to me and to Albanian public for this interview. And I have just a
simple question in the beginning. What is the reason of including Albania
in this European tour this time?

THE PRESIDENT: That's a fascinating question. First of all, I want to make
sure the Albanian people understand that America knows that you exist and
that you're making difficult choices to cement your free society. I'm
coming as a lover of liberty to a land where people are realizing the
benefits of liberty.

Secondly, I've been impressed by your leadership. I have met your leaders
at different times --

Q Impressed in what sense?

THE PRESIDENT: In the sense that they're committed to common values with
the United States, that they believe in certain freedoms, and that people
ought to be given a chance to live in a free society. And so my message is
that we welcome our friendship, that I'm proud of the hard work that you're
doing, and I'm particularly grateful to be the first sitting President ever
to come to Albania.

Q Yes, this is a historical visit. And Albanians hoping to get a -- to
receive an invitation at summit to join NATO in 2008. How realistic this
Albanian expectation is, according to you?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, my message to the Albanian government and the Albanian
people is, first of all, thank you for your interest in joining NATO. But
like I said to other countries that are at this stage in the process, if
there's -- there's a certain map that has to be followed, a certain way
forward; there are certain obligations that have to be met. And my only --
my only advice is, work as hard as you possibly can to achieve the
different benchmarks that would cause the NATO members to accept Albania.

Q And let's get to the hardest point: Kosovo. I mean, in the beginning of
the week, you just had a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin,
and you agreed with him to rediscuss Kovoso's future once again. And people
are worried about that. Do you expect any compromise with Russians that may
affect our desired plan as it stands now?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me make it clear what I did say.

Q Because everybody is worried about that.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, they ought to be worried about it. It's a difficult
issue. But they ought not to be worried about my position. My position is
that we support the Ahtisaari plan, and that's the instructions that I have
given to Secretary of State Rice, who totally agrees with me. And those
will be the instructions we give to the United Nations.

And so I don't know who characterized my phone call with Vladimir Putin,
but as I told him on the phone, look, we don't want to -- we would hope to
avoid a major conflict in the area, but we feel strongly that the Ahtisaari
plan is the right way to go, it's the right way to move forward. And that's
the U.S. position.

Q So in case of a Russian veto next month at Security Council, does U.S.
have a plan B for Kosovo?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, plan A is to try to make plan A work.

Q Yes, but is the plan A --

THE PRESIDENT: I know, but you're asking me to think hypothetically. It
happens, by the way, with the United States press, too. They say, if
something doesn't happen -- my job is make it happen in the first place. So
we're working to try to convince all members of the U.N. Security Council
to support the Ahtisaari plan, and we're out making our case as to why it
makes sense and why this will make -- yield peace. We would also hope that
the EU would continue and NATO would continue to work with Serbia, to give
them a way forward, as well, that there be an opportunity for them to
become participants in some of the European structures, and in this case,
in NATO's case, an opportunity, perhaps, to join NATO and have U.S. as a
partner.

Q Let me put another question. I mean, to be honest, it's very easy in the
region to find pro-American governments, but it's not as easy to find
so-called pro-American nations, or better saying, pro-American public or
people. Does U.S. have any strategy to reverse this trend, to make U.S.
policy more effective in long-term?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, it's like -- people ask me the question
about popularity, whether it be overseas or at home. You can't make
decisions and try to be -- and want to be popular. You make decisions
because you want to be right. I make decisions for what's best for the
United States of America. Sometimes that makes me popular, sometimes it
doesn't.

But popularity comes and goes, but certain principles should never leave.
And I believe firmly the United States must confront tyranny and disease
and hunger. And I believe the United States must secure our homeland from
further attack. And I will take the actions necessary to do so. I hope
others understand why. I would like for people to understand the
decision-making I've done. I want people to respect my country and to like
the American people. And most people do like the American people. Sometimes
they like the American President and sometimes they don't. But popularity
is -- I would ask the question, are you still going to make decisions based
upon solid principles? And the answer is, absolutely.

Q Yes. And let me ask one childish question, because it is your first time
in Albania, and everyone is wondering, what does come to your mind when you
heard the word, Albania?

THE PRESIDENT: Beautiful coastline, interesting history, Muslim people who
can live at peace. That's what comes to mind. I'm excited to go. I'm -- I
must confess that I also thought about the dark days of communism, when the
society was a closed society. I'm looking forward -- I met many Albanians
who are excited to be living in an open society. And I can't wait to come
to your country. I've heard great things about it, and it's going to be an
exciting trip for me and Laura.

Q Thank you very much, Mr. President, and welcome.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir, thanks.

END 3:43 P.M. EDT
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