Berisha recalls what he told Bush about Kosovo, Albanians

The late former president, George Bush, had not a few friends, even in newly founded Albania from communist dictatorship in the early 1990s. The most prominent among them is former Albanian President Sali Berisha, who remembers in detail conversations with Mr. Bush for Kosovo, Albania, as well as strengthening democracy and peace in the region.

Voice of America: Mr. Berisha! US President George Bush passed away these days. You are among the few Albanian politicians, who have met since the beginning of Albanian pluralism in the early 1990s. What did you think that moment, and how did you experience the news of President Bush's life?

Sali Berisha: To me, news of President Bush's life was bitter, sad news. President George Bush was the politician with whom I had the most friendly relationship throughout my political career. From the first two months of my mandate as president of Albania from spring 1992 until a few months I have maintained continued communication with him. I have had great fortune, the special privilege of enjoying his friendship. This is very bitter and sad news.

Voice of America: What do you think of the first meeting with President Bush?

Sali Berisha: From his first meeting with President Bush, the greatest impression was the simplicity with which he welcomed me. George Bush was, in effect, belonging to the highest nobility of the time, but on the other hand, he was also the most earthly person you could meet in American and world political circles. The invitation and waiting in the Oval Chamber was a milestone in my life, but within a few moments everything became very simple in communication. President Bush began talking to Kosovo; what impressed me greatly, but also was the main problem. He got up, got an atlas in his office, opened the atlas and sat down and talked about Kosovo. He asked me: What do you think? I explained, and told him that Milosevic's plan is Kosovo's ethnic cleansing and division. Milosevic's plan for partitioning Kosovo was then in the middle of Pristina; there was little more plan than young Milosevics have today. I told Mr. Bush that Milosevic intends that hundreds of thousands of Albanians who are residents in their areas for thousands of years have moved, moved them to the rest and then said to do whatever they want, to join Albania or to do whatever else they want. But that, I told him, creates war. Why, he said, does it create war? We, I said, do not attack Yugoslavia, but if Milosevic takes such a plan, the border will no longer be. So I want to be honest; even if I want to prevent a large-scale conflict between Albanians and Serbs, I cannot prevent it. Neither can I take this, but I will open the border, and I will do whatever it takes to make those people stay in their homes. Right point, Bush told me. You're right, it's a fair case. The way I brought the matter true was accepted by President Bush. After that he played a capital role in blocking this plan, after in December he sent an ultimatum to Milosevic with a special envoy, where he made it clear that in case you landed the armies in Kosovo (because the procession was in Nis and was about to descend), you'd face the bombing of all sorts of American weapons, besides mass destruction, besides nuclear weapons. Actually, Milosevic did not move the army.

Voice of America: What about the wider region?

Sali Berisha: In addition to Kosovo, a decision went to the United States for Macedonia as well, because Macedonia was initially unconvincing, towards the United States they did not first recognise Macedonia, but later recognized it. The US did a huge thing: The US intervenes via the UN and unveiled two battalions of soldiers; a battalion of American soldiers on the UN flag and another battalion of Nordic nations soldiers. Milosevic initially believed he had Macedonia in his pocket and had that plan, but the US failed this plan. It was US, and President Gligorov's wisdom prompted Macedonia to remain, not be attacked and divided peacefully by the Yugoslav federation. At that time I have lobbied, as far as I could, not allowed Milosevic to land in Macedonia and create a conflict in Macedonia, which would be more terrible than the conflicts in the north. President Bush's administration's interest in the region was extremely important. Americans were studying, as Igleberger had told me, whether the region has strategic interest in the United States in peace, because the United States always has a priority in preserving peace and promoting democracy in the world. The US concluded that the region is of strategic importance to the United States and engaged. President Bush is the architect of this policy then continued by President Clinton, who recovered the red line removed to Milosevic following the inauguration of Macedonia's invisibility. It thus became an important international framework that prevented the spread of war in the south of the Balkans.

Voice of America: Mr. Berisha, what have you talked to President Bush at these first meetings in the early 1990s about the prosperity of new Albanian democracy after nearly half a century of communist dictatorship?

Sali Berisha: After my first reception at the House I had many more meetings with President Bush. At these meetings President Bush was quite surprised and felt deep regret over what the Albanians had suffered during the dictatorship. One of his acts was when he gave us the clause of the nation most favored in trade. Beyond Albania's insignificant exports, it was a very friendly gesture to arouse optimism. Meanwhile, the main topics concerned democracy. Among other things, he had shown me how at the time of his ambassador to China, Mr. Bush, was waiting diplomaticly waiting to communicate with the Albanian ambassador, who surprisingly left him and refused to communicate with him. As director of the information agency, he had extensive knowledge of Albania because he set the worst example of the consequences of a dictatorship and a regime. His interest was great, and his political support was of great importance.

Voice of America: Mr. Berisha, what support do you think President Bush has given at the beginning and further in empowering Albanian-American relations in many areas?

Sali Berisha: President Bush has laid new foundations on excellent relations between the two countries. At that time there has been a very intensive dialogue between the Albanian government and the US government for all developments in the region. The foundations of very good co-operation were established in many areas, including the security field. Let's not forget that the first strains in Europe are located at Gjader. They were fears that monitored with a precision, photographed all developments in the Bosnian war and broadcast them in real time to their centre. So at that time and later, a sensational cooperation was established in the field of security, the military, and all the fields.

Voice of America: Do you recall any specific details of the meeting you later had in Vlora with President Bush and Secretary Powell?

Sali Berisha: Before coming to Vlora, he came to Tirana. President Bush, as the former president, has come to Albania twice. At both times he has come in support of Albanian democracy. On his visit to Tirana I have awarded him the Medal of Freedom, at the time was the highest title. Then he invited me to Texas, and I went to Houston, his family friend. I invited him to come back. He came to Vlora with the entire Bush dynasty, except for George W. And Secretary Powell. It was a friendly visit, it was a tourist trip with the yacht Alexander. The ban in Vlora was a friendly gesture to Albania and to me. I knew him with all the developments and problems that Albania faced. I can say I've always had his support. That visit was also aimed at support, for he trusted me in my conversations and presentation of problems.

Voice of America: Many people believe President Bush came to Vlora to talk to you about Albania's internal developments.

Sali Berisha: No doubt they were, and he came to express support for Sali Berisha. That's the truth. He came with his whole family and Secretary Powell to Vlora's villa. Then he made dinner on the yacht Alexander, where Jeff Bush and the other boys were, except for George W. We had an unforgettable afternoon and dinner in Vlora and the yacht with which they came.

Voice of America: Mr Berisha, mentioned earlier the nobility of President Bush and his friendship and co-operation with President Clinton later. What can Albanian politics learn from President Bush's nobility and his co-operation with the Democrats? Albanian politicians are very aggressive, their language is very harsh. How can Albanian politics benefit from this experience of President Bush?

Sali Berisha: The other thing about American politicians. This is where fundamentalist thinking dominates. Let's just say that all of today's attitudes do everything dark with everything that happened yesterday and try to represent that it all starts with them. This reminds you of the old history of the Albanian leadership that did everything to demonise the kingdom, so they could not have reference. Actually, this mentality is inherited today by Eddie Rama. It doesn't build by denying. First you must build. The best way to talk is to talk in action. Today, though, it is not done.

Voice of America: How can Albania and its policy get out of this vortex of nihilism and deny the results of the predecessors, and how can the policy become more useful for citizens?

Sali Berisha: Despite the tense moments that have existed in relations between major political forces, the truth is that their constantity has been co-operation. This is not understood today by Edi Rama, that co-operation among the major political forces is vital, but for the government to co-operate with the opposition this has a fundamental condition: The government should necessarily feel the necessity of this co-operation. This government does not feel that need.

Voice of America: Because of the numbers in parliament?

Sali Berisha: First of all, thinking. Let's compare two periods: in the 2007 period I had the votes and I didn't have the urge for numbers. But to walk towards NATO without the opposition you couldn't walk. One day Marcie Reese, the American ambassador, came to my office and says: Mr. Berisha has long ceased to politics. I say: Mrs. Ambassador, that's right, but my main goal is to make that visit to President Bush in Albania, and I didn't want to have any quarrels between them, but I wanted everyone to experience it as a big event.

Voice of America: And today...?

Sali Berisha: Today, the leader of the majoranza does everything to denigrate, limit, demonize the opposition. He does not feel the need, he does not understand that it is his battle that led Albania to take the EU train twice -- once in 2016, by not opening negotiations, and in 2018 not to open negotiations again. He blames the opposition, saying that “is the opposition who invents and conveys to others, to the internationals, a situation that does not exist in Albania”. It's actually the one who doesn't perceive Albanian reality as it is. There is a major problem Albania has for all international partners from Washington and so on: Organised crime, which is all over the world. In Albania he is in '%s', but Albania has a prime minister, who is the only one in the world who says that we Albania do not have gangs, we have perpetrators, but the gang do not (). This example shows where Rama is found in relation to Albanian reality. Even the opposition has no value, and only denigrated.