Albania prepares euphoric welcome for Bush

TIRANA, June 9 (Reuters) Albania has spent millions preparing for George W Bush, even though he will be in the country, one of Europe's poorest, for just seven hours.

On the penultimate stop in his eight-day European tour tomorrow there will be none of the protests that greeted his visits to Germany and Italy, only a nation welcoming him with open arms.

Albanians have cleaned the streets, stocked up on thousands of United States flags and even retiled bathrooms for the US president, the most important man ever to visit the long-isolated Balkan state.

''President Bush in Albania - Making History,'' and ''Albania - USA, Proud to Be Partners,'' read billboards along main roads.

Giant posters of a smiling Bush draped main buildings, along with thousands of flags, and politicians in the city council fought over which street got to be named after the president.

Albanians have been enthusiastic about all things Western since the collapse of the isolationist Stalinist regime in 1990.

But their particular love for the U.S. stems from 1999, when then-President Bill Clinton pushed for intervention in Kosovo, the Serbian breakaway province with an ethnic Albanian majority.

NATO expelled Serb troops accused of killing thousands of civilians while fighting a two-year war with separatist guerillas, and the United Nations took over.

The US is now the strongest backer of a UN plan that could make the province independent this year. Grateful for the help, the Albanians pride themselves of being fervently pro-US, and have sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Public euphoria over the visit, -- the first by a US president, or any other top world leader -- peaked this week, and Prime Minister Sali Berisha rushed to get the credit.

''A blessed day for the Albanian nation.'' Berisha said. ''This visit is undeniable recognition of reforms undertaken by my government.'' But most Albanians think the visit is linked to US policy on Kosovo: a poll last week showed 61.7 percent of respondents saying Bush's visit will greatly influence Kosovo's status, while 67 per cent thought the US will recognize its independence even if Russia vetoes at the Security Council.

LOYALTY With the fate of Kosovo on the line, Albanians want to make sure Bush has no doubts about their loyalty.

One in three of Albania's 3.3 million people said they wanted to see him. Expatriates have returned and a few thousand Kosovo Albanians were making the long drive from the province.

Berisha gave his offices a face-lift to receive the US president in style and recorded a nationally-broadcast message to welcome him on behalf of all Albanians.

A Stalinist-era hall was being remodelled for White House staff with two bathrooms re-done with luxury furnishings.

And for those kept away by strict security, there were photographs of Bush at the pyramid-shaped cultural centre built to house a museum for the late communist dictator Enver Hoxha.

''This visit consecrates Albania as a land belonging to the West.

This land, once defiled by the visits of (Soviet leader Nikita) Khrushchev, welcomes now a great friend,'' says a voice-over accompanying the exhibition.

But some thought Tirana risked alienating the country's main donor, the European Union, which Albania wants to join.

''We should not forget what we often forget when it comes to our relations with the US and Europe; the project we are committed to...is not to become the 51st state of the US but a member of the European family,'' analyst Fatos Lubonja wrote.

REUTERS SRS PM0025