This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.40.111.209 (talk) at 01:19, 26 October 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 01:19, 26 October 2012 by 86.40.111.209 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
A George W. Bush Street, named after the former United States President George W. Bush, currently exists in at least two locations: the first going from the Tbilisi International Airport to the middle of the Georgian capital Tbilisi and the second a "short, crooked" thoroughfare in the Albanian capital Tirana.
Tbilisi, Georgia
The Georgian street (Georgian: ჯორჯ ბუშის ქუჩა jorj bushis k'ucha), formerly Melaani Drive (მელაანის ქუჩა melaanis k'ucha) is located in the southestern part of Tbilisi, in Isani-Samgori district, and leads from the Tbilisi International Airport to the city center.
After Mikheil Saakashvili's Rose Revolution in 2003, Georgia became more pro-American. The then US President George W. Bush visited Tbilisi in May 2005 and his motorcade had driven down Melaani Drive. On September 14, 2005, the Tbilisi City Council voted 29–12 in favor to rename the street in honor of Bush. Gigi Ugulava, the Mayor of Tbilisi stated during the renaming ceremony that Bush was striving for "the development of democracy in the world" and was helping "Georgia with its democratic transformation". Georgy Gunava, the head of the Georgian Labour Party opposed the renaming. He acknowledged America's help, but preferred that a city street after Thomas Jefferson, the third US President.
In 2010, two protests—one by the Georgian Labour Party and another one by independent civil activists—were organized in Tbilisi for restoring the street's original name.
Tirana, Albania
The Albanian street (Template:Lang-al, formerly known as Rruga Puntorët e Rilendjes) is situated directly outside the Albanian Parliament in the center of Tirana. It was renamed after Bush when he made the first-ever visit by an American president to Albania, in June 2007. A few days before he arrived, the city council voted by a majority of 49-4 to rename the street. The move reflected a similar decision in Prizren, Kosovo to commemorate former president Bill Clinton's visit to the city in 1999. The street is reportedly not very impressive, as it is only a "short, crooked" thoroughfare.
References
- ^ "თბილისის ერთ-ერთ ქუჩას ჯორჯ ბუშის სახელი ეწოდა". Civil.ge. 15 September 2005. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- "Georgian Protesters Want Bush Street Renamed". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Georgian Service. March 26, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- Barry, Ellen (October 2, 2012). "Georgia's President Concedes Defeat in Parliamentary Election". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ "Georgian capital names street after Bush". Tampa Bay Times. 15 September 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- "Protests against "George Bush Street" in Tbilisi". Voice of Russia. August 15, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- "Albanian Street Named After George W. Bush". Balkan Insight. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- Doak, Jennifer (18 June 2007). "Postcard from... Tirana". Foreign Policy in Focus. Retrieved 21 October 2012.