The watch clearly wasn't stolen, and it's sad what the media chooses to focus on.
Kosova is a state independent of Albania, and any Serbian still bitter about the matter is simply still ashamed their country ever committed human genocide. And shamed they should be. I think they should focus on doing good with the territory that they have left..

Valerie D., Edgewater, NJ,

Alex you don't have a clue, at 0.52 Bush is wearing his watch, he doesn't turn his back or speak to any bodyguard and at 1.02 he is not wearing a watch ha ha ha. They stole it around 0.57-0.58

Menelaos, Salonica,

Shame on you President Bush.Not for your visit to Albania, but for promoting the theft of Serbian land.SHAME on you.

tihomir, new Orleans, USA

To Alex: Of course they will have such a warm reception as Bush did. That is because they all want to enlarge the Albanian territory at the expense of 15% of the Serbian land called Kosovo. That is exactly why Bush received such a reception in Albania! Is that so difficult to see?

Goran Cvetic, Belgrade

Goran Cvetic, Belgrade, Serbia

Watch the footage entirely and pay a bit more attention. President Bush took off his wristwatch after the first wave
of hugs from the crowd. He gave it to the bodyguard with dark glasses and moustache, right behind him. Am not Albanian, never met an Albanian in my life, am not a pro-Bush person, but this story was not fair to those people who greeted a foreign politician so warmly. If our PM, Mr.Blair and Mr.Brown after him, would have the chance to go in Albania, I am sure they will receive the same reception.

Alex, Kingston Upon Thames, London, UK

So, how did it happen eventually? Did the watch fall down while he was kissing and hugging? Did he look down to see it fall? Or, did he slip it into his right pants pocket? Or was it that he handed it over to his bodyguards? Or is this yet another Serbian conspiracy? It must be.

Goran, Belgrade

Goran Cvetic, Belgrade, Serbia

ATTENTION!

Here is the PROOF showing that President Bush's wrist-watch was NOT stolen in Albania

Liri, London, UK

To Kristina, London, England,

You are absolutely right, but Im sorry to say, the world has gone totally wrong. Thats what the media does to distract us from real issues such as the army deals between America, Uk and Saudi Arabia. Unless those people who I consider to be terrorist are brought to justice we won't be able to change a thing.

Tiago, London, Uk

listen people...its such a shame for all the medias that are commenting this much about such thing. its a shame for all of them who think that the president got rubbed. NO ONE WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO DO IT to someone like Bush. Being a poor country, doesnt mean that stealing Bush's watch would solve their problem, and Albanians are never as dumb as those who comment about it. U better ask the president himself to know what happened to his watch if you're really so concerned about it

Yona, New York, USA

Don't be ridiculuous and shame a country for a watch. That watch was not stolen but felt off his wrist.

Albanian do not steal their guest.

Eda Niland, London, United Kingdom

The way Bush was received in Albania shows one of the noble tradition of the Albanian people, which is to respect and welcome their guests. If you look into the history USA has supported Albania always, opposite to some other European countries whom has contributed in chopping Albania off.
This is a great excuse for the British press to slack off another “Eastern European” country, which I understand is completely out of the ignorance as they know nothing about Albanian, its people and traditions. But then the press don’t care much anymore as their priority is not to inform people but to sell, which is a bit sad.

Ardiani, London,

This is news?!?

Lindsay, Bournemouth,

F.A.O All Serbs

I am sure that most of the people in here reading the comments that people of Serbia have written. Will understand that the reason why they are making such comments against Bush and Albania is because they are jealous the fact Bush visited Albania and not Serbia. They are also very angry after hearing Bush saying that Kosovo will become independent soon rather then later. Serbs expect Albanians to respect them when at all times they are the first ones to make comments against Albania and its own people.In Serbia today there are several massive graves being hidden that are filled up with innocent Croats Albanians and Bosnians. If you were to ask the people of Serbia they will all dinied. This just tells you what kind of people they are.Before the Serbs start accusing me of criticising them because of their religon I tell them that I am a proud Catholic. Therefore I always like to speak the truth as I have done even when it comes to speak against my own people.

Fatos Nano, Tirana , Albania

<b>Bush loses watch, world grind to a halt looking for it</b>
The entire world was shocked and appaled when news transpired that the leader of the free world, and all around demi-god George Bush had his watch pinched.

" It's just not fair" exclaimed George Bush in a press event soon after. " I bought 10 boxes of cherios to get that watch, and i'm very upset someone took it, especialy after i saved the world!"

The watch has been described as " plastic and colourful, with the face resembeling mickey mouse." There is currently a $5000000 dollar reward for whom ever turns the watch in, the funds provided by the less succesful 'find bin laden' appeal.

Donald Rumsfeld has shown to be particularly dismayed at the loss, and throughout his interview kept his own brand new watch hidden from view out of fear, he was in the crowd at the time and seems very concerned. " this is of great concern to me" exclamied Rumsfeld.

gk, West Drayton, Middlesex

ATTENTION!

Here is the PROOF showing that President Bush's wrist-watch was NOT stolen in Albania

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3BNxJr-yOR8

Liri, London, UK

I don't think any of this is a slur on the Albanians.
Their only show of bad taste is to want to shake his hand.

Ken Wyatt, Todmorden, UK

Watch stolen... watch not stolen!?!?!?! Who cares? The important thing with his visit in Albania is this - Independent Kosovo. Read here what he said: "At some point in time, sooner rather than later, you've got to say, 'Enough is enough - Kosovo is independent". Now, you can come up with stolen watches or stolen fingers or whatever - but you can't change what Bush said and what is going to happen in Kosovo. Sorry serbs or greeks or anybody who doesn't like albanians.

Bushie, Stockholm, Sweden

F.A.O Serbian Boy

We are proud to Love USA even though Serbian people like you wish we didnt. We love USA and we will always do so because it was USA who saved thousands of Albanians from Kosovo being killed by heartless Serbs. We will get the independence soon rather then later whether Serbs like it or not. Tough

Nano84, Lewisham London, England

Bush how pleased I was to see Muslim Albanians greeeting you the way they did. We all know that Muslims around the world dont really like Bush that much. With his visit to Albania Bush has just shown to rest of the world that even though Albania is a Muslim country they are not that fanatic as muslims i Middle East are and also that people of Albania love democracy that USA is proud to spread it around the world.

PMSali Berisha, Tirana Albania, England

What's the time Mr Bush?

A difficult question he now doesn't have to answer

Odtaa, Richmond, UK

Maybe it was felt the watch was too ornamental or flashy and might offend.

Em Hawthorne, Ottawa, CAN

If you watch the footage shown on Fox you can clearly see President Bush removed his watch.

Linda, New York city, USA

If the reporter bothered to view footage shown on American TV, it's pretty clear, in my view, at some point that Bush quits shaking hands (his is somewhat sideways/back to the camera), puts his hands down in front of him and looks to hand something to secret service guy because when he then puts his hands back into the crowd, the watch is gone.

I haven't seen the YouTube footage, but the footage shown on NBC's "Today Show" is pretty clear in implying that he took the watch off himself and handed it over to an aide.

Caroline, New York, NY

ha ha ha ha ha albanians realy loves america ha ha ha ha

Serbian Boy, Pljevlja Montenegro,

Albanians are surely known for their "morality". But, all this is very funny and it shows that some Albanians could reach for our president and even steal his watch, "while we can't even ask him a question"(John Stewart).

Yaz, Chicago, USA

Precisely. It's nothing to do with the Albanians -the same news could have emerged had he visited Nottingham or London. It's to ridicule Bush and his entourage.
On the other hand, those paranoid among us may fear the watch was a device of espionage deliberately dropped...

Zlon, Leicester, England

How is it possible that this joke even makes it to the Times of London?
Not even David Blaine would have been able to do it in a fraction of the second. And then, God's sake not even the hungries person on earth would have risked to be lynched on the spot, for all the gold in the world.
What is going wrong with the British press?

Esteban Gonzalez, San Francisco, CA

Well, if it was a cheap timex watch, why did he remove it?

Demetris Theocharis, London, UK

Fascinating.

Maynard, Oxford, UK

Whomever posted the opinon that no thief is that good just doesn't know expert thieves.

I have seen thieves in KOrea steal a television outside of a guarded army barracks and break inside of a small room and steal the occupant's stereo system, entirely whille he slept in the room.

A good thief could make Houdini look awkard.

pister

jp pillow, rockwall , usa/tx

Lifting the watch in 9/10 of a second with 30 strong gand of CIA around, this guy must the best thief the world has ever seen.
Get a life guys becouse this is not true, just propoganda against albanians.

Edi, London, UK

Hahaha.

I wonder what that would fetch on Ebay!

Alex, Southampton,

Its a good job he wasn't in Manchester.
They would have had the trousers off him and the shirt off his back.

Jon, London,

at least there's no chance of anyone stealing any of his ideas.

jem, london, uk

I think it's rather sad it's even on the news. Paris Hilton and now this??? I can live without this information thank you! There are rather more important things going on in this world or am I wrong???

Kristina, London, England

Aahhahahaa ... Sorry to say it but:
=> The watch was stolen - face it. There is no way in hell that you can remove a watch that fast, with only 1 hand. The watch is on his left hand, his right hand is always busy "greeting" more people. Either I am wrong, or we have ourselves a new David Copperfield.... :-)
=> For many people: they don't care who stole it! Heck, I would have LOVED to do it! Anything for that matter... his wallet, his glasses...
Albanian, American, Canadian, Russian, Belgian, German, WHO cares!?!
The fact remains: whatever they stole, and whoever did it - just shows that he made a fool of himself...
=> For those people who beleive the World's Greatest VIP (Village Idiot President) and the press releases he uses to cover up his stupidness... Here's a tip: Travel the world, listen to PEOPLE, use your OWN BRAIN and EYES... Some people (or better in the animal world, we call them "sheep") seem to beleive everything "the press" publishes.

W, Prague,

I just watched the News this morning. (T0DAY) with Matt and Meredith. They showed another video from a different angle that clearly shows Bush removing the watch and handing it to his secret service guy.

George , NY , NY USA

A $50 dollar watch?
That's like £25. I imagine he would wear a $500 or $5000 watch.
Also there are more important things going on in the world other than the President "losing" or "Taking off" his watch.
He can afford a new one!!!!!!!!!

Holly Botenson, York, UK

Now wonder the Queen never had any money on her.....

Emeye, Manchester, UK

It is incredible how the Italian and British media, The Times included, spins this without the slightest consideration for the consequences such unfounded articles have on the people concerned. This article insults the intelligence of your readers and the honesty and welcoming spirit of the Albanian people. To suggest that travelers should follow your advice against traveling to the Balkans simply because Bush's watch fell to the ground, is a journalistic travestie. An apology would be more suitable to your newspaper's reputation...

Ralf Gjoni / Mjaft! London Club, London, UK

It is obvious that this story was prepared and disseminated by a group that wants to denigrate Albania. It probably costs them a significant amount of money to pay for the distribution in various media.

Max, Gotham City,

He probably never got the hang of it anyway, all those little hands pointing this way and that whilst Mickey stares back at you.

Ken Wyatt, Todmorden, UK

Ok - here's a wild thought: maybe also think for YOURself, and maybe beleive some things said on the news, but don't take it all literally!
=> Kinda funny how they cover it up no? Somebody from the whitehouse says "I am not going to CHANGE what I said..." + ANOTHER movie from FOX proves different (? isn't that the one that always covers for Bushy?) + a 50 dollar watch?? Who writes this stuff?? The president, does NOT wear a 50 dollar watch... They are just saying this to minimize the humiliation of what he has lost!

W, Prague,

So Mr Bush has lost his watch, at least he won't be able to give an ETA on the air strike

John smith, London,

What is much more important than the fact that the watch either fell off or was lifted by an overenthusiastic(or talented) onlooker is the scramble by spinmeisters to immediately enter into damage control mode, contradict footage, and then stick to the most unlikely of excuses when confronted with the truth. This is just another dispiriting example of the culture of political spin which has politicians and their henchmen saying black is white and white is black , and what is more, doing with the smile that only the genuinely insincere possess. The watch took a sabbatical, forced or otherwise. Leave it at that, and quit insulting our intelligence.

Eric, London, England

Who cares?! Bush has enough pocket money from the State to afford a new one. Does no one ever wonder where he gets all those suits and who pays for them - THE PEOPLE!! Albanians are great people and should not be criticized here!

Justin, Maidstone, Thailand

Perhaps now the unheard-of American decision to force the Albanian government to adopt a decree according to which 500 U.S. Marines were to be the only armed corps in Albania during Bush’s visit will become more clear. The fact that entire Albanian “elite” Republican Guard has had to be not only dismissed from the duty of guarding this foreign dignitary, but also entirely disarmed for the duration of Bush’s visit to this “Muslim miracle-country” that supposedly adores the United States, speaks volumes of how much fiction has gone into creating the picture of “staunchly pro-U.S.” image of Albania for the media. That and couple of bombs going off in Albanian capital on the eve of Bush’s triumphant arrival promise this will be the kind of solid, trustworthy friendship most sane people (and states) tend to steer clear of.

Riste, Kostur,

What a piece of journalism !
Fortunately Mr.Bush has been careful in Italy, otherwise Italian mafia would "have stolen his life".

arti, Montreal, Canada

I understand that it hurts to see the albanian people of kosovo become independent, especially if your are a serb, but good things come to those who deserve it and those who have fought and earned it, so sorry daniela.. breath it in and just let it be...

shkendije kodra, statenisland, suffox newyork

All of you above: Please watch Fox5 News footage (in slow motion) and you will see that President took his watch off so it won't slip off his wrist while in the crowd. Albanians in Albania and Kosovo have a lot of appreciation of what United States did for these peace loving people.

M. B. Johnson, Alexandria, USA

Well, if his watch did really fall off, it must be of poor quality which befits a poor quality president doing poor quality work. Which shows only a people like the Albanians could love such a president where the rest of the world despises him. Such a poor quality country Albania is. He should be called President George Bush, leader of his beloved country, Albania!

Dean, Perth, Australia

On the CBS evening news I saw Bush remove his watch and put it into his pocket!!!

cassandra, Newna, GA

obviously albanians loved bush being their. ive read alot about albanians and about "besa". they are very kind people, and very respectful to people who come to their homes. ALOT of people were hugging him, shaking his hand.....anything could of happed, it could of easily fallen off...maybe one of his guards held it for him. But it seems the serbs are trying to make this something its not..trying to say "the albanians did it"... hmmm, i wonder why...i bet their angry the u.s. is going to make kosovo independent... and they cant do anything about it. LOL. LOL. LOL.

John Brownson, Chicago, U.S.A. Illinois

look the cameras once again,he took it off himself,albanians are not thieves

niki, london, england

There should never be a single instance where an unknown gets near the president never mind close enoungh to lift his watch. What could he have lost? What does the President have in his pockets? Hopefully nothing but his NRA card. That used to be the American way. Hopefully it will be again!

Matthew T. Nash, Miami Beach, USA / Florida

the watch was clearly stolen. The denials from Bush's team show that post-iraq he has lost his nerve for punitive action. This incident could have been seized upon to continue the war against islam. Perhaps they could have bombed albania until the watch was returned or a replacement found?

Karklos, Salford, Grerat Britain

You can clearly tell that he looked down twice the moment the watch "dissapeared".

Greg, Toronto, Canada

I think he was robbed.... But to be honest, I have seen the strap come loose on my own watch and had it just fall off. The way it happens is the end works its way free leaving it sticking out like a tab. Then the metal piece thing that sticks in the holes can easily become undone.

jz, tampa,

...some 30km from the capital Tirana whose businesses are financed by US grants. He had a cup of *the cofffee* in the local cafe and then in an impromptu move reached out to greet the crowd.

"Perhaps time has stood still for Bush since he gave the order to bomb Iraq" quipped La Stampa. It added: "Incredibly enough, **none the** 850 Inspector Clouseaus who were guarding him in Albania noticed a thing".

Joseph Tumpleton, London,

"it looks like Mr Bush may have had his watch stolen".

Damn, Al-Qaeda and Taleban must be behind this.

Kiwi Bro , Melbourne, Australia

Do you ever take your watch off when its hot? I do! I don't like the feeling of it round my wrist.

Angela, Portola Valley, Ca

I suppose this watch will shortly appear on ebay!

Tom, Balsall Common/Coventry, Warwickshire

It is completely ridiculous to think that his watch was stolen. As you can see from the press conference his watch was taken from one of the secret service guys.
Please stop making things up and stop sterotyping a nation. Because some albanians are criminals does not mean that the whole country is.

Ina , Racnho cucamonga, USA/CA

I would think the ONLY reason anyone would reach out to touch him would be to rob him.

Gloria, Charleston, USA/WV

If you watch the full television footage more closely (not just the snapshots), you can clearly see President Bush remove the watch himself and slip it into his right pants pocket.

Sean, Bloomington, Indiana

In keeping with his flawless track record, Bush has told yet another lie. This was right out of Ocean's 11/12/13.

Lucille Bollock, Anchorage, AK

bush also said in "American English" that he loves nation
that set like a fly, where ever the Americans sheet.
UK is a good example to follow ?

harry, hayes, uk

Have you been to Albania?

dada, NY, usa

Hahahahaaa!

Dodo, Mauritius, Mauritius

well, it can happen to anyone who goes in the middle of thausends of people..

Nazmi (Albanian), Presevo, Kosovo

well, i think it is common sense that going through thausends of people while everybody was toutching and hugging it would've been high possibility to loose their
watch as watch felt off..

Nazmi (Albanian), Presevo, Kosovo

there is a fox news video in you tube which shows that president bush removes his watch it is a diferent angle video, please have a look.

Baton Berisha, london, london

This incident may have been possible in the early 1990s, however, I don't see it happening in Today's Albania. Albania may well be the poorest country in Europe but Albanias as a people have strong morals not to mentions the improvements in living standards in the last decade.

Robert, Munich,

Obvious? I think not. The Prez got robbed. What's obvious is that he did NOT "take it off" as his people are insisting, so the White House is lying.

Michelle, Atlanta, GA

I've never known a watch fall off. And it would be incredibly funny to get away with something like that. Kudos to the fingersmith.

Lance, Oxford, England

The Albanians have a saying: "The housee is for God and the guest." True, the President was not in a house, was outside, but still - he was a guest in Albania and Albanians bestow the highest respect to guests. They would consider robbing the President's watch a national disgrace.

Robert, Mobile, AL, USA

That's not what I saw Bill. I saw him reaching into the crowd and a bunch of hands grasping his wrist and then the watch was gone.

I've seen numerous explanations now but the least likely is the WH explanation that he took it off and handed it to the Secret Service.

Someone stole his watch. And BTW in most of Europe whistling is not a sign of approval. Don't know about Albania but elsewhere it's pretty insulting.

Regardless most seemed happy to see him. NO wonder considering he made them a promise about Kosovo indepedence he has no intention of trying to keep.

Mark Garrity, Downers Grove, Illinois

Bill, you obviously haven't seen the YouTube video - you can see two hands deftly and quickly prising the watch off his wrist. But if the White House said it didn't happen, then it didnt, right?

Michael Sollis, Madrid, Spain

Who cares about the watch?!

Emma, London,

Okay, the White House can't even tell the truth about a cheap Timex? Very telling, if you ask me--and even if you don't ask me.

Nancy, Glens Falls, USA NY

Do you really think anybody would be so smart and silly at the same
time to try to steal his watch? I guess not. Albanian people know how to welcome guests.

Besmir Alia, Tirana, Albania

For goodness sake the security guys of the President as well as the American Embassy in Albania have already made it clear that nothing like that happened, but that one of his own security people took it away from him because of the mess, and then he was given it back when taking off with Air Force One.

Andrew, Paris, France

What a brilliantly spotted piece of journalism!

I laughed all the way through......

Susan Daniel, Milan, Italy

I come from Romania, and I definitely do not agree with the fact that the Balkans are thieves. Maybe we do have many of them, maybe they are the most skilled pick pocketeers in Europe, their variety of techniques might be endless, however, the Balkans should be most known for their culture, traditions, which in many ways are by far more interesting to mention than, let's say, Oktoberfest, in Germany, a beer festival for old people only...
I agree, in this article we're talking about Bush and his wristwatch. But still, try not to associate burglaries with the Balkans in a way which might make people believe that any Albanian, Romanian etc is, by default, a thief.
Thieves are everywhere in EU, politicians in Ro are thieves and a#$ kissers; a few years ago, Bush came to Bucharest and everyone on TV and on the streets were so cheerful, it was like Santa Klaus was coming to town. I admire the Italians and disagree with the Albanians, who stole Bush's watch. At least, they should've booed.

Levent Feizi, Constanta, Romania

Bill is obviously a right-winger who can't tolerate reality and has to twist it to match his beliefs--i.e., either (1) the watch purposely jumped off in order to jubilantly hail the heroic El Presidente Bush and then, it's work done, vanished in a magical puff of pink smoke as it went off to a better land, or (2) the heroic El Presidente Bush in a feat of strength grabbed his arm away from the cheering crowds, magically made time stand still as he carefully removed and pocketed his watch, and hours later took out the watch again, caressed it, and said "I've been through too much with you to ever lose you. Stay with me, baby. Be my watch forever." The facts are, Bush entered the crowd, was jostled by the crowd, and the watch disappeared. Did someone purposely grab the watch? Did someone accidentally grab the watch? Did it fall off on its own? Who cares? Bush's watch is gone, and he looks like a jerk.

John, Washington, U.S.A. / District of Columbia

Either it felt or he really took it off, but one thing is for sure that Albanians were very friendly and would have given even their watches away, just to shake hands with M.r Bush. No other countries in the world can have that hospitality. Well done Mr. Bush and Well Done Albania and Albanians!

anthony, Brooklyn, NY

well, i feel very sorry for what happen but going through all these people hagging and touching it could've been high possibility to loose their watch...

Nazmi (Albanian), Presevo, Kosovo

possible tht watch fell off during his rubbing hands...no one will still his watch!!!!! maybe security man got it in his pocket..

ani, london, england

I think President Bush was greeted so enthusiastically in Albania and when you see how many hands he shaked you cannot imagine that it did not get loose or fall. That at least should be taken as a possibility. Albanian people were very happy and proud to have him there and I dont think the absebce of the watch should cast any doubts about the sincerity of the admiration and respect that Albanians have always had for the Americans. Albanians do not see the USA as Democtratic or Republican but as the land were the opressed find Justice. SInce we have always felt repressed this is something we feel strongly about. Obviously we feel that int he region we have only Turkey and the US to count on coutnerbalancing the power since ALbania is predominantly Muslim historically we were sorrownded by countries trying to anex us. In short please do not try to make his welcome less remarkablke than it was by foccusing on an absent watch.

Albana Karakushi, new york, new york

Everybody is saying that the watch fell off and one of the secret service people returned it to him. I'm albanian, living in the US, and I can guarantee you, that nobody would do anything like that. Especially to Bush.

Altin, Minneapolis, MN

If you look closely at the You Tube vision you will see him looking down at the moment everyone is saying his watch was stolen. I would say it fell off, he noticed looked down and then went on a bit and then looked down again. It would be funny if it was stolen but I think not.

Ray, Calama, Chile

I think this thing about the watch is just a propaganda thing that Italian communist circuits and Serbs have made it up. Western Europe was never willing to consider giving the basic human rights of Kosovar Albanians and since U.S. governmnet has been doing this in the last 10 years for the sake of peace, Italians, Greeks, Russians don't like this happen.

These propaganda circuits will do everything possible to undermine and blemish the outstanding welcome that Albania did for President Bush. And they just feed the stereotypes and hatred that has been cultivated for decades against Albanians in Western Europe and in Italy.

Gezim, Boston, United States

who is really thinking. "today i'll steal the prez's watch, obviously with all the commotion the strap was broken..

Mano, Brooklyn, NY

Why are these kinds of things hidden from the public eye with lame excuses? His watch was stolen, that's it. And, by the way, those recently discovered terrorists in the US were not "Yugoslavs"- they were brought to the US soil from Kosovo in 99. And Bin Laden was there at the time as well, at the time NATO was dropping bombs on serbian civilians, with an excuse that Milosevic was oppressing them, not that he has terrorists to fight. It doesn't hlep that fairly recently, two journalists were laughing on BBC World that, given the situation since sep.11, Milosevic would have been considered a first fighter against terrorism.

Daniela, Belgrade, Serbia

I belive this is a Serbian bred conspiracy to sway Bush's foreign policy regarding the future of Kosovo!!!

Butch Weishower, Boise, Idaho

hmmm dont think the watch fell on its own

bob, london,

Yeah, ok..

handbag, new york, ny

yeah i agree i dont fink he got robbed he probably lost it while huggin people no one would dare to do that to Mr Bush in Albania

Ben, Tirane, Albania

Well to me it seems that he should read the guides that the state department is issuing for Albania and maybe next time he will not have a watch to "LOSE"!?
Al thou my experience has shown that by visiting Albania you can lose more then just your wrist watch, like your car or.., well be more careful next time. Will you George?

Ivan, Pristina, Srbija

CORRECTION RICHARD OWEN.....

He is not wearing a short selved shirt, he has folded it!!

Kiran, london,

Can't wait for it to be listed on ebay, 'own a piece of Bush'.

Pookie, Esher, UK

Its pretty obvious that his watch fell off during all of the hugging that took place, no one would ever think of robbing him, especially with all the security there.

Bill, Cresskill, USA / New Jersey

I think its great. Albania has been through a rough spell, almost any kind of good, memorable and funny incident comes under the heading of favorable publicity. Mr. Bush should lavishly focus on the county, to show and model what America can, will do and does for a country. Lets show them the best in the West.
Its also good to see The President being cheered and welcomed as a hero. It good for the man the nation and the world. Lets face it, embarrassingly, we are all just human. Afloat, there are high and arrogant angels of our miserable destruction. We have to get off the constant negativity of anyone we don't always agree. None of us has the answer. But all of us has a part. Good for Albania. Its time. Let the investment flow.

M D Williams, New York , NY

Come on.. his watch fell down and Secret Service took it. When he left aAlbania and saluted from the stairs of the plane the watch was visible in his left hand.

Juli Hysenaj, Tirane,

It is really sad that the Italian press tries to cast a shadow upon the spectacular welcome that the Albanian people afforded president Bush. That welcome was not only intended to impress Bush, but also to show the world and especially Albania's neighbous, that Albanians recognize their true friends...the American people! It was a tribute to America as much as it was to Bush! Clearly the Italians have the motive: In Italy he was jeered and treated like an enemy while in Albania he was loved as if he was a son of the country! Jealousy certainly has a role here. But to try and spin the whole visit around a $50 Timex watch, is certainly a very weak attempt at throwing trash at the most pro-American nation in the world.

Klevis Peshtani, New York City, USA

This is not true. Everything you have written to this news is a lie.
The Tv-s of Albania have shown the moment when the president Bush was walking on the stairs to his aircraft, you can see when Mrs. Laura Bush has gave his watch. Just after Mrs. Laura gave the watch to him, he put it into hit pocket. It is so clear. Everyone can see this moment. Please don't say such bad things. Albanians really love President Bush.It is not fair to judge the only nation in the world that made President Bush feel, as Albania did.
You don't believe? You can come whenever you want and see what really happened with Persident Bush's watch.

Rozi, Tirana, Albania