George Bush arrived in Tirana on June 12, 2007, in the first visit of an American president to Albania.

He and his wife Laura were received in Rinas by the then Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lulzim Basha and MPs Bamir Topi and Ben Blushi.

Bush met in the Palace of Brigades with the then president of Albania, Aleksandër Moisiu, from whom he was awarded the highest decoration "Order of the Flag", for his contribution in support of the Albanian cause.

The American president, in a joint conference with the prime minister of that time, Sali Berisha, appreciated the high level of relations between Albania and the USA.

Bush said he believes UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan for supervised independence is the right solution for Kosovo. He said that he will work to convince the countries of the Security Council and Serbia about this.

Bush said that the US supports Albania's desire to join NATO. He praised religious tolerance in Albania. 

"I expressed the desire for Albania to join NATO, I am a supporter of this desire," said the American president.

During his stay in Tirana, Bush spoke in front of Albanian troops, an expression of gratitude for Albania's military contribution to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I told the troops that you are respected by our military as well-trained and inquisitive soldiers," Bush said.

He encouraged Albanian politicians to work together to meet NATO membership standards.

"Politicians must work together to achieve these standards, political differences aside," he said.

Bush met in Fushë-Kruje with a group of Albanian businessmen who had received financial support from the American development agency. After the meeting, Bush went, outside the protocol, to the main street of Fushë-Kruja and met many enthusiastic citizens.