Bush: Ahtisaari plan leads to peace

Bush: Ahtisaari plan leads to peace

Bush is expected to visit Albania's capital Tirana during his European tour, his cabinet has confirmed.

When asked whether Washington had a Plan B in case Russia vetoed a new resolution on Kosovo, Bush replied that “the only plan is to see to a successful implementation of the Plan A”, adding that it was “his job to make sure it happens.”

“That is why we are trying to persuade all the UN Security Council member states to back Ahtisaari’s plan, for it leads to peace in the region,” the U.S. president said.

He also said he believed that "Serbia, as a partner of the U.S., EU and NATO would become a part of Euro-Atlantic structures."

Albania, Macedonia ask for timely solution of Kosovo issue

The governments of Macedonia and Albania expressed their support for the UN envoy plan on Kosovo on Friday, saying a timely solution of the issue is “conducive to the region's stability and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.”

"We are not the countries to determine the status (of Kosovo). But we are neighbors, and we think that a defined status for Kosovo is better than the status quo," Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski told a joint press conference with his visiting Albanian counterpart Lulzim Basha.

Basha reiterated Albania's strong support for Kosovo's independence based on the blueprint drawn by the UN special envoy Matti Ahtisaari, who recommends internationally supervised independence for the province, news reaching here from Skopje reported.

"We don't support an unnecessary delay," Basha said, adding that Macedonia's position on Kosovo's independence "was constructive and in line with its efforts for integration into the Euro-Atlantic structure."

As regards the upcoming Tirana visit by the U.S. President George Bush on June 10, both ministers said they expect a strong support to Macedonia and Albania's NATO membership bid, including the invitation to join the club at the Alliance's summit in 2008, Macedonia’s media reported.