This is a translated and edited set of excerpts from the Bush-Berisha news conference in Tirana on June 10.

PRIME MINISTER BERISHA: (As translated.) Today is a beautiful day. Today is a great day, historic for all Albanians. Among us is the greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times, the President of the United States of America, the leading country of the free world, George W. Bush, his lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, and their close aides.. For me, it’s a great honour, and a special pleasure to thank them with gratitude and extend the most heartfelt welcome, in this historic visit, the first visit ever of a United States President in Albania.

At the beginning of last century, President Wilson did not allow the partition of the newly proclaimed Albanian independent state. The US recognised Albania 85 years ago. Your visit on this anniversary is its most beautiful crown, the climax of excellent, friendly relations between our two countries.

In your presence, I’d like today to extend the most cordial greetings and my deepest gratitude. The friendly feelings towards your nation and your great country, the proud Americanism of Albanians are indeed a matter of their national pride. Albanians are very proud about the friendship with the US, and the cooperation they have with your nation in the war against international terrorism, of their presence on your side in Iraq, Afghanistan. I assure you that they will be on your side wherever their modest, but resolute contribution is needed against international terrorism, this most dangerous enemy of free people.

Sixteen years ago, Secretary James Baker brought to Albanians the message from the country of freedom, “Freedom works.” Today, after 16 years, I can say that despite the hardships experienced by our country, freedom for Albanians has worked more than any other nation. ... It is the country with a fast economic growth, with the private sector accounting for 80 percent of GDP. And the income per capita has increased 20 times more.

God bless Albanians. Ladies and gentlemen, in our talks with President Bush, we have discussed our excellent, friendly bilateral relations and their further development. I informed him of other reforms launched by my government, and their results are strengthening the rule of law, the zero tolerance fight against organised crime, the valuable assistance that law enforcement agencies from the United States and other friendly countries are providing to this end. We talked about the fight against corruption and the much-expected assistance that a series of projects funding by the Millennium Challenge Account, related to e-taxes, e-procurement and one-stop shop, offer in this regard, and other reforms in the judicial system, police, education, et etcetera.

A special place was the question of Albania’s membership into Nato as the main priority of Albania. In this regard, we have decided to increase our defence budget to 2 percent of GDP, to triple our presence in Afghanistan, and implement with seriousness the requirements of the ninth MAP cycle. In addition, let me mention that 90 percent of Albanians support Albania’s membership to Nato.

The support of President Bush and his administration is of a vital importance to Albania for membership into Nato as the most secure future.

Special attention in our discussion was given to solution of the final status of Kosovo in compliance with the proposal of President Ahtisaari for its independence as a - gradual independence as a precondition for stability and peace in the region.

Thank you very much, Mr. President Bush, great friend of my nation.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mirdita. (Laughter.) Thank you for having me. Prime Minister, thank you for your hospitality. I thank the President for his hospitality, as well.

I’m proud to be the first American sitting President to visit Albania. It’s a great honour to represent my country here. I’ve really been looking forward to this trip, and so has my wife, Laura ... I thank you for the warm welcome we received on your streets.

We had a very good discussion. I learned a lot about your country. I learned the fact that this is a country that embraces the markets, is willing to do necessary reforms to make sure that the small business person survives, the entrepreneur is strong, that the tax code is fair. I’m impressed with the desire of the government to fight corruption, to make it clear that the government is of the people, that the government can be trusted by the people, by routing out those who would use their exalted positions to steal from the taxpayers. I appreciate that kind of commitment, Mr. Prime Minister.

I appreciate the fact that Albania is a model of religious tolerance ... And I appreciate the fact that Albania is a trusted friend and a strong ally.

And so, Mr. Prime Minister, we thank you very much for your commitment to freedom in Iraq, as well as Afghanistan. The Prime Minister has announced that Albania will deploy 120 additional troops to Afghanistan this summer. These are two vital fronts on the war on terror, and the United States has a strong friend in Albania in this war. And I thank you.

We also talked about Nato and Albania’s aspirations to join the Nato alliance. I commended the Prime Minister for the progress that Albania has made in defence reform - in other words, part of becoming a member of Nato requires a reformation of the defence forces. And Albania is working hard to do that, as well as to meet performance-based standards for membership. In other words, you’re just not accepted into membership; you just can’t say, I want to join; there are certain standards that are expected to be met.

And so I call upon all in the government, government and the opposition, to do what is necessary to join Nato, and we’ll support you and help you. I think it’s best that Albania be a Nato ally. I look forward to welcoming you some day into Nato. We also talked about Kosovo. I’m a strong supporter of the Ahtisaari plan. I said yesterday in Rome, the time is now ... The Prime Minister was anxious to hear my views. He wanted to make sure that what I said was clear for everybody, and what I said was: Independence is the result; let’s get the process moving.

Now, we want to make sure that Serbia hears that the United States supports their aspirations for closer integration with the West. That means, working with the United States in a bilateral fashion. It also means potential membership of Nato, for example. I urged the Prime Minister to work with the leaders in Kosovo to maintain calm during these final stages, of Kosovo final status process. He assured me he would. He’s got good contacts there, and Kosovars look to the Prime Minister of Albania and the President for Albania for leadership, and they’re willing to provide it.

Again, I thank you again for the hospitality, and I know you’re proud of the historic progress that you have made. May God bless the people of Albania, and, of course, the people of the United States.