Albania: On Tirana’s George W. Bush Street, a positive impression of Obama
'The Muslim world has been waiting for a long time for such thing.'
By Besar Likmeta | Contributor 06.04.09
TIRANA, ALBANIA – In staunchly pro-American Albania, a European outpost of the Muslim world, few people interviewed said they watched the Cairo speech, though some TV stations here did broadcast it live.
Sitting at his office on Tirana’s George W. Bush Street – really – Mufti Shaban Saliaj admitted that he had not followed President Obama’s trip closely, but he says he was nonetheless pleased that America appears to be reaching out to Muslims.
A little better informed, Elvis Naci, the imam of the Albanian capital’s Mosque of the Tabaks, described Obama’s gesture as “extremely” positive.
“The Muslim world has been waiting for a long time for such thing,” Imam Naci said, adding. “If you see all the polls in the Islamic world, the US president’s visit has been warmly welcomed.”
Other reactions around the world
<< Israelis react to Obama’s speech | MainComments
3. adam | 06.04.09
A ‘George W. Bush Street’ - wow, that is something.
Maybe Bush dear should consider visiting, for a change, a place where respect for him seems still to be * gasp* intact!
4. arioni | 06.04.09
what does Albania have anything to do with “the muslim world” that we should care on Obama’s speech about it? we’re some 70% irreligious here and have twice more churches than mosques…
5. issaya mazani | 06.05.09
I appreciate Obama for his speech.It is a good start but there stil a long way to the total reach-out to the muslim world.
6. ANDREW | 06.05.09
Albania is not a muslim country at all, and its governement is completely separated from religion just like the USA. Also there are muslims that live in Albania just as they do in the US. The Obama speech was not addressed countries like Albania that is a strong US allie, but it was intended to start dialoge in countries that are not considered friendly to the US.
And yes, Geroger W. Bush did visit Albania to thank it for its support in the war against terror, and Albania named a main street in its capital after him, and issued stamp with the statue of liberty. Just trying to shed some light.
7. Dimal | 06.05.09
Obama is setting up a tone,
The only way for the American government to win Muslim’s world support is establishing the Palestinian state.
That is where Obama is heading slowly and carefully
8. Randi | 06.06.09
I have been to Albania and Kosovo, and will be returning again next month. I understand the points that are being made-that the Muslim majority in both countries do not define their national identity as a religious one. On the other hand, from a North American and Western European perspective, the majority ethnic background is muslim. The koran, the kanun and besa have influenced and continue to shape these countries. Obama is not chiding these countries to be responsible and open. Albania is the only country in the world that by choice, had ten times more Jewish people after the war than before the war. They also sheltered 25,000 Italians after Italy changed sides in the war. If you ask most Albanians, they will either tell you that the religion of Albania is Albanian or that without the kanun, there is no koran and visa versa.
9. Ilir | 06.06.09
The claim that Albania has a Muslim majority comes from the the 1920’s census which found that a majority of Albanians were Muslims. Today however, secularism is more prevalent than any religion. I think the Muslim card is played with Albania to show that “look a Muslim country likes the USA.”
As an Albanian I couldn’t care less how the Muslim world sees Obama; I care about how Europe sees and values Obama. Whether it’s Bush, Clinton, or Obama, Albanians see a friend in America.
10. ilir | 06.08.09
i am albanian and would be willing to bet that the vast majority of albanians in albania were not even aware of the contents or their intentions regarding the islamic world in president obama’s speech. i’m sure they were preoccupied with a soccer match. while there may be a few elderely people alive who practice the antiquated form of “albanian islam,” if you were to travel outside of tirana you may stumble into a few of these people but the vast majority of people in albania will chuckle at any seemingly devout muslim. being albanian has always taken precedence over being a muslim. the forceful introduction of islam by the ottoman turks and it’s initial lack of inclusion of the albanian language and culture within it has always been at odds with the will of the albanian people.
take it from an albanian who has been, seen and lived in albania.
11. Avni | 06.10.09
Form of practicing islam in Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia is not same as in Pakistan or Mauritania, but thet doesn’t make us non-muslims like some want to make us look like. We also haven’t been forced to islam. We are proud muslims and proud europeans in same time
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1. Emily | 06.04.09
I enjoy the multitude of reactions.