“Watt’s World” - Nick Watt Finds a Statue of President George W. Bush in an Albanian Town Square
Host Nick Watt heads to Albania where there are no traffic laws, there are 27 words for mustache, a woman can live as a man and a hip hop artist has become prime minister. Watt even appears as a special guest on a TV show because they think he is American. “Why is Albania so weird,” asks Watt as he heads south to the “Albanian Riviera” to fulfill his childhood dream of seeing the tiny mushroom-shaped bunkers that stand as a monument to one man’s paranoia. On his way, he makes a pit stop and discovers one of Albania’s more charming idiosyncrasies: the residents love America and President George W. Bush. In Fushe-Kruje, a giant statue of Bush was erected in the town square to commemorate the first visit by a U.S. president to the country after the fall of communism. The following day, Watt meets Diana, one of Albania’s few remaining “sworn virgins,” a woman who takes a vow to be a man and is legally and socially recognized as a man from then on, as long as they remain celibate. Watt continues his journey around the country, meeting with the prime minister and appearing on Albania’s answer to “The Daily Show” – a late night variety show complete with independent investigative news and dancing girls. He concludes that Albania is a pretty weird country, but that is not necessarily a bad thing! New series premieres Monday, June 30 at 10:00pm ET/PT.
The Statue of George W. Bush
Someone in the comments mentioned I started every episode this season with In Albania and now it's all I can hear.
For those keeping score: Two more episodes before our adventures in Vinland begin. Be excited.
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Bush in Albania 2007 - Cheering in Fushe Kruja
10th June 2007
A historic date for all Albanians
President Bush is given a hero's welcome in Albania. This is the first visit ever of a serving president of USA to visit Albania and will be remembered long time, even though it only lasted eight hours.
Albania is the only country where no one has seen any protests against USA or the President. Some even say the Albanians are the most proamerican people on the planet. This is not a hoax. This is a real deal and there is a reason for it.
Why Albanians love Americans? Simply because americans are a freedom loving people and they showed this love in practice many times in the history of Albanians (and other small nations) by defending the Albania's right to exists as a state despite the appetite of many world powers and neighboring countries to carve and erase the country from the map. e.g. USA's President Wilson in 1919, at the Paris Peace Conference, was a crucial voice that saved Albania from being ceased as a state. Also in a more recent case, in 1999, it was USA and United Kingdom (leading) that saved kosovar albanians from being extinct by the killing machinery of Serbia. Therefore, the actions of the american people speak very loud about their just intentions towards small nations like Albanians. And remember, Kosovo had no oil worthy of such intervention in 1999! You americans should be proud of your soldiers who risk their own life to bring peace and stability to the world. They need your support!
Albania as a state had its ups and downs in relations with USA, but after fall of communism in 1990 (something that America and Bush Senior again helped to get rid off), since then, Albania and albanians are back on track to drive forward a lasting relationship with the american people. We urge the american government to be more involved in Albania and Kosovo, to work closely with Albanians and deter potential involvements of radical islamists who may want to exploit new democracies like ours, by offering the very much needed financial incentives, but with a high price in return. We are aware of this, but we need your help!
Albanians are a nation that will long remember your sincere attitude and support in our cause to freedom and democracy. Albanians stand united with Americans in the War on Terror! If you are told different, don't believe them! They are all ill wishers and they'll do anything to convince you otherwise!
SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVA!
TIME IS NOW!
p.s. If you are an american and you ever thought that America should not get involved or intervene in hot spots around the world, we Kosovar albanians are a living proof to show you that such intervention are needed to bring order and democracy in the world. If you think that by turning your back to the sufferings of other people will make your life better, you are terribly wrong and that makes you a bad person. Sooner or later, the global instability is going to effect your home. War is never ok, but we come from there and had it not been for America's intervention, there would have been hardly anyone to tell you what really happened in Kosova.
p.p.s. Bush's wristwatch enigma!
The saga is now over. The following video proves it, the watch has not been stolen, but President Bush took it off by himself and placed it in his pocket (or as some suggest, handed over to his bodyguard behind, but that's not relevant now).
(or check video responses)
Ok, the whole situation was humorous but in the end, it has been proven that we do not do such things as lifting presidential watches, lol. God Bless America and Albanians. The warm welcome to President Bush is no doubt addressed to the whole american nation.
Albania rinde tributo a George Bush con una estatua
Fushe Kruje (Albania), 10 jul (EFE).- ( Imágenes: Mimoza Dhima ) Lo que no ha conseguido en su tierra lo ha logrado en Albania. La memoria del ex presidente de los Estados Unidos George W. Bush ha sido perpetuada en este pequeño país balcánico, de mayoría musulmana, con una estatua colocada en Fushe Kruje, una localidad a la que acudió de visita en el año 2007.
Gorge W. Bush interview about Kosovo and Albania
Gorge W, Bush gives a great interview before his visit in Albania, Ones again he mention that US supports Kosovo.
President Bush stopped in Bulgaria Monday, the final stop on his European trip where he's been enjoy
Program version at 10:43:39
HEADLINE: Bush wraps up Europe trip in Bulgaria (bush)
---------------------------------------
CAPTION: President Bush stopped in Bulgaria Monday, the final stop on his European trip where he's been enjoying great popularity in the Balkans. (June 11)
----------------------------------------
NB. This is a voiceover transcript, not a full shotlist:
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
[Notes:bushes in Bulgaria]
President and Mrs. Bush head home today after a visit to Bulgaria. Sofia was the last stop on the Bushes European trip which was mostly for the G-8 summit in Germany.
[Notes:lots of nats - bush listening to band, laying wreath, shaking hands]
At a welcome ceremony, canons boomed and a military band played the U-S National Anthem. Bush and Bulgaria's president layed a wreath at the monument to the unknown soldier and shook hands with Bulgaria's veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
[Notes:Albania footage from Sunday]
Just before Bulgaria -- Bush stopped in Albania. There he got an extremely warm and physical welcome. Albanians were pleased to hear Bush support Kosovo independence. Kosovo has a high ethnic Albanian population.
[Notes:wide of news conference]
The president touched on Kosovo again at a news conference in Bulgaria.
SOT: Bush: america believes that Kosovo ought to be independent.
[Notes:Bush walking through hallway with Bulgarian Pres]
Bush met with both President Georgi Parvanov and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.
[Notes:bulgarian pres at news conference]
The Bulgarians hope to get U-S help freeing five Bulgarian nurses in jail in Libya. Libyans accuse them of deliberately infecting children with H-I-V and have sentenced the nurses to death.
SOT: Bush: they should be released. They should be allowed to return to their families. We will continue to make clear to Libya that the release of these nurses is a high priority for our country.
[Notes:map with Poland and Czech Republic highlighted]
The leaders also talked about the planned missile defense system the U-S wants to put in Poland and the Czech Republic.
[Notes:cutaway of news conference - 2 presidents shaking hands]
The Bulgarians want to make sure they will be covered by the system.
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Bush arrives in Albania to hero's welcome
1.Wide of security cordon in main square and people gathering
2. Wide of people waiting to see US President George W. Bush, some holding US flags and wearing US hats
3. Man walking past making 'victory' sign at camera carrying flag and wearing hat
4. Man holding poster of Bush
5. Close-up of 'stars and stripes' hat
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Albanian resident:
We love President Bush because we think he is doing everything that the Kosovo can be independent. But we think it's not only President Bush but from history we know that the Americans are friend from (of) Albanian people.
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop:
I love America. United States lives in my heart!
8. UPSOUND of man saying: (English) Look here, then kissing US flag
9. Pan of two men holding US flag
10. Pan of girl walking in crowd holding US flag
11. Men talking to camera
12. Boy waving US and Albanian flags
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Albanian resident:
++PLEASE NOTE: WOMAN ON CAMERA IS TRANSLATING FOR MAN NOT SEEN ON CAMERA AT BEGINNING OF SOUNDBITE++
The President of America is the best president of all the world. And he is the president that decides the destiny of Albanian and Kosovan people. Number one for Kosovo.
14. Zoom into man's T-shirt reading: (English) Welcome Mr. President
15. US and Albanian flags
16. Wide of crowd
STORYLINE
Thousands of Albanians gathered in a downtown square in Tirana on Sunday to welcome US President George W. Bush who is visiting the tiny and impoverished nation.
Leaving behind thousands of anti-Bush protesters in Rome, the president received a hero's welcome in Albanian on Sunday.
We love President Bush because we think he is doing everything that the Kosovo can be independent, one man, who was wearing a 'stars and stripes' hat, told AP Television.
From history we know that the Americans are friend from (of) Albanian people, the man added.
I love America. United States lives in my heart, said another man, before kissing the US flag.
Another man said that Bush was the best president in the world.
He is the president that decides the destiny of Albanian and Kosovan people. Number one for Kosovo, the man said through a translator.
During his visit, Bush said he wanted to encourage Albania's free society, but it also makes good political sense on the world stage for him to stop in Albania, if only for about eight hours, and be seen receiving a robust greeting in the predominantly Muslim country.
Many Albanians hope Bush's visit will give a boost to the ethnic Albania majority in neighbouring Kosovo, which is pushing for independence from
Serbia.
The United States and key European countries are trying to narrow differences with Russia over the future of Kosovo, which has been administered by the UN since a 1999 war between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian rebels.
The UN Security Council has been divided over the issue; the United States and key European countries support Kosovo's independence, and Russia, traditionally a Serbian ally, opposes it.
Ethnic Albanians, who say they are descendants of Kosovo's first inhabitants, want Kosovo to become an independent state. Serbs have offered
it broad autonomy, but want the province to remain part of Serbian territory.
Bush was to meet with Albania's President Alfred Moisiu and Prime Minister Sali Berisha and greet troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan during the day.
He was to also have lunch with the prime ministers of Albania, Macedonia and Croatia, which hope to join NATO next year.
Albania desperately wants membership in NATO and the European Union, but even though it has soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan and wholeheartedly backs Washington, Bush has not been that upbeat about its chances.
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Shtatorja e Xhorxh W. Bush ne Fushekruje
Qyteti i Fushe-Krujës vendosi sot në sheshin kryesor një shtatotore të ish-presidentit Xhorxh. W. Bush. Qytetarët, artistët dhe zyrtarët pohuan se e ndërmorën këtë hap në shenjë mirënjohje për mbeshtetjen e madhe që Shtetet e Bashkuara i japin Shqipërisë dhe Kosovës në arenën e diplomacisë botërore.
where is George Bush wristwatch?
Bush losing his watch in Albania
George W. Bush é perpetuado na Albânia com estátua de bronze.
Fushe-Kruje (Albânia), 10 jul (EFE), (Imagens: Mimoza Dhima).=. O ex-presidente dos Estados Unidos George W. Bush foi perpetuado no pequeno país balcânico de maioria muçulmana com uma estátua colocada em Fushe-Kruje, uma localidade que o acolheu em 2007 como um herói.
A estátua de bronze de três metros de altura mostra Bush com a manga da camisa dobrada, acenando com a mão esquerda em um pedestal de pedra colocado na praça central, que também tem seu nome e foi revitalizada para a ocasião.
President George W. Bush addressed a crowd of thousands of Croatians in a town square in Zagreb toda
HEADLINE: Bush: Croatia's invitation into NATO 'historic'
---------------------------------------
CAPTION: President George W. Bush addressed a crowd of thousands of Croatians in a town square in Zagreb today, welcoming their nation to NATO and the security offered by the alliance. Croatia and Albania this week were both formally invited to join NATO. (April 5)
----------------------------------------
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VIZITA E BUSHIT NË SHQIPËRI
Radio Television of Kosovo is the public service broadcaster in Kosovo. RTK operates five TV channels and two radio stations broadcasting a diverse programming of news, entertainment and four 24-hour television services broadcasting on terrestrial and satellite networks.
Published by: OnAir.fm
RTK Web: smarturl.it/RTKLive
Copyright - RTK and OnAir.fm
US takes steps to get Albania, Croatia into NATO; NATO Sec Gen
1. Mid of US President George W. Bush signing the accession protocols treaty, which paves the way for Albania and Croatia's final membership into NATO, with Albanian and Croatian Ambassadors to the US, and Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer standing behind him UPSOUND: clapping
2. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, President of the United States:
This is a special moment in the hopeful story of human liberty, as America formally declares its support for Albania and Croatia's entry into NATO.
3. Wide of ceremony
4. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, President of the United States:
We strengthen America's partnership with nations that once found themselves in the shackles of communism. We rejoice in taking a major step toward welcoming the people of Albania and Croatia into the greatest alliance for freedom the world has ever known.
5. Cutaway of Croatian and Albanian ambassadors
6. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, President of the United States:
In the space of a single decade, this region has transformed itself from a land consumed by war to a contributor to international peace and stability. America looks forward to the day when the ranks of NATO include all the nations in the Balkans - including Macedonia. I thank Macedonia's ambassador for joining us today. We're proud of the steps you're taking to strengthen your democracy. The great NATO alliance is holding a place for you at our table. And we look forward to your admission as a full NATO member as soon as possible.
7. Cutaway wide of ceremony
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary General of NATO:
Our Atlantic Alliance was born in the Cold War, but it has long outlasted the circumstances that brought it into being. NATO today is an active alliance and actively working to defend its values against threats from wherever they may come; an alliance whose members are committed to developing the instruments and the capabilities that are needed to fulfil their demanding missions.
9. Mid of Bush with de Hoop Scheffer and the Croatian and Albanian ambassadors
STORYLINE:
The United States on Friday took another step toward getting formerly communist Albania and Croatia into the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) alliance.
US President George W. Bush met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and signed the so-called accession protocols paving the way for the two Balkan countries' final membership in the military alliance.
The White House invited to the signing ceremony about 160 lawmakers, members of the diplomatic corps, the US ambassadors to Albania and Croatia, and members of Albanian-American and Croatian-American groups.
This is a special moment in the hopeful story of human liberty, as America formally declares its support for Albania and Croatia's entry into NATO, Bush said, after the signing ceremony.
NATO leaders agreed at a summit earlier this year in Romania to invite Albania and Croatia into the alliance.
However, the alliance rebuffed US attempts to begin the process of inviting Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet republics, to join.
Despite strong US backing to bring them in, Germany, France and some other alliance members opposed the move, fearing it would provoke Russia.
The idea of NATO enlargement on its doorstep has irked the Russians.
Ties between Russia and NATO members have been further strained by the Georgia-Russia conflict.
The war erupted in August when Georgia launched an attack to regain control of South Ossetia, which broke from Georgian control in the early 1990s.
Russian forces swiftly repelled the attack and drove deep into Georgia.
Albania and Croatia will be eligible to join NATO when all 26 allies have ratified the accession protocols.
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Kosovo to honour former US president Bill Clinton with statue
SHOTLIST
1. Mid of sculptor walking toward his working studio
2. Various of sculptor working on former US President Bill Clinton statue
3. Close up of sculptors of Bill Clinton
4. Various of sculptor as he works on Bill Clinton's face
5. Close up of sculptor
6. Various of Bill Clinton statue waving his left hand
7. Various of artist spraying some water in the five-metre statue to soften the clay
8. Various of Bill Clinton photos as the sculptor looks at them
9. SOUNDBITE (Albanian) Izeir Mustafaj, Ethnic Albanian sculptor
I respect this big man who has given so much for my people. Without Clinton's approval, the NATO bombing that ended the war wouldn't have been possible. He saved two million Albanians from certain extermination.
10. Various of sculptor as he works on the statue of Clinton
11. Various of sculptor with the statue
STORYLINE
The former US President Bill Clinton will appear taller and washed in bronze in Kosovo as he greets those entering the province's capital.
A statue of Clinton, worked up by the ethnic Albanian sculptor Izeir Mustafaj, is expected to be erected soon in Pristina in its main boulevard named after the former president to honour him for stopping the Serbian crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians over eight years ago.
Clinton is adored by ethnic Albanians in Kosovo for leading a Western alliance to halt the war in Kosovo in 1999.
During his visit to the province immediately after the war and later as former president he was greeted by tens of thousands ethnic Albanians who credit him for their survival.
I respect this big man who has give so much for my people, said Mustafaj.
He moved around the makeshift studio in a polyester plant in the northern town of Podujevo, where he has worked on the statue for two years amid clippings of newspapers with the pictures of Clinton he used to help him create a statue closer to his real image.
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US troops in Kosovo prepare for Bush visit
1. Wide of Camp Bondsteel (40km south of Pristina)
2. Mid-shot of American flag at Camp Bondsteel
3. Mid-shot American helicopters preparing to take off
4. American soldiers walking in the camp
5. Close-up of American soldiers
6. American troops preparing for Bush visit
7. Mid-shot workers preparing area for Bush visit
8. Mid-shot soldiers talking to each other regarding everything being ready for tuesday
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Private Caren Beasley, Salt Lake in Utah
Its very rare to see a President in a situation like this and its wonderful that he's making an effort to come here and visit his soldiers and to show the pride he has in the us army
10. Wide-shot of workers
11. Close-up of worker preparing facility
12. Wide-shot workers
13. Workers working
14.SOUNDBITE: (English) Sargeant JJ Johnson , Gas City Indiana
I am kind of excited about it am mean this is how my country runs and he is like the spokesperson and leader of my country and as a soldier I am basically his troops. I am excited for him to be hear and I am excited because I will have the chance to actually see him and because he is actually showing up here in Kosovo showing us goodwill and telling us that ewe are doing a good job and I am very excited about it
15. American soldiers working
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Specialist Dale Jilek, North Dakota
We feel great to have the President come and visit us an its really nice to have his support in our effort and he makes that support clear to us in all times
17. Closeup of American troops walking
18. Wide-shot American patrol
19. Mid-shot American troops in middle of town
20. Close-up of soldiers machine gun
21. Soldiers in town talking to civilians
22. Close-up American soldier
23. American soldiers in town
24. Close-up of weapon and then girl looking at weapon
25. Close-up girl in army hat
26. Wide-shot of soldier in town with barbed wire in front
STORYLINE:
U.S. troops serving as part of KFOR are preparing for the arrival to the province of President George W. Bush.
The president will visit Camp Bondsteel on Tuesday for an update on peacekeeping operations there.
It's reported President Bush also will meet Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski to discuss the ongoing conflict between the Macedonian army and ethnic Albanian rebels along the border with Kosovo.
Bush spent the morning with Pope John Paul II who opened the doors of his hilltop summer residence to the US President.
Bush, putting the weekend Genoa summit and its violent protests behind him, did not plan to ask the pontiff on Monday about a thorny decision awaiting back home: whether to permit federal funds for potentially breakthrough medical research on stem cells from human embryos.
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VIZION PLUS - INAGUROHET STATUJA E BUSH NE FUSHE KRUJE.wmv
George W. Bush: The American Presidency Project
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Small-Business Owners in Fushe-Kruje, Albania
June 10, 2007
Bush`s Watch Stealing in Albania
BERISHA NE FUSHE KRUJE PERURON STATUJEN E ISH PRESIDENTIT XHORXH BUSH LAJM
7NEWS - kanal informativ Shqiptar - Tring TV
Kanali informativ i Platformes Shqiptare Televizive dixhitale Tring TV.
Lajmet më të fundit vijnë tek ju në kohë rekord, nga gazetarët tanë në terren 24 orë gjatë 7 ditëve të javës.
Bill Clinton Statue Unveiled In Kosovo
Thousands of ethnic Albanians braved low temperatures and cold wind in Kosovo's capital city Pristina Sunday for the unveiling of a statue of former President Bill Clinton and to catch a glimpse of the real Bill Clinton who was taking part in ceremonies.
Clinton's 11-foot statue will stand a main boulevard that also bears his name.
Bill Clinton, Former US President:
I must say, I never expected that anywhere, someone would make such a big statue of me.
Clinton is celebrated as a hero by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority for launching NATO's bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999 that stopped the brutal Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians in which 10-thousand ethnic Albanians were killed and about 800-thousand were forced out of their homes.
This was Clinton's first visit to Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia last year.
In a speech before Kosovo's 120-seat assembly, Clinton encouraged lawmakers to forgive and move on from the violence of the past.
Bill Clinton, Former US President:
You're off to an unbelievably good start. I am proud of you. I am grateful that I had a chance to play a small role and now I pray that you will make the most of the opportunity you have created.
Clinton waved to the crowd as the red cover was pulled off from the statue to thunderous applause.
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