Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

Ambassador Reeker at event on the first anniversary of American Corner Tetovo

January 14, 2009

Ambassador Reeker:  Thank you all for coming.

ART TV Tetovo:  You are visiting the American Corner on the first anniversary of its establishment.

Ambassador Reeker:  That is right.  It is very nice to be back in Tetovo on the first anniversary of the American Corner.  We are very proud of this corner because it has grown extremely quickly.  It has well over a thousand members and it brings a little piece of our Embassy and a little piece of America here to Tetovo and the surrounding area.  We also have American Corners in Bitola and Skopje.

ART TV Tetovo:  Do you think American corners will be opened in other cities in Macedonia?

Ambassador Reeker:  We would like to.  It is always a question of budget and getting the resources to do that.  We are always asking Washington to increase our budget but of course it is difficult because we try to open these corners all around the world.  And of course, these are partnerships.  We are very pleased to have the partnership here in Tetovo with the Ministry of Culture and with the City of Tetovo, so we will be looking for other opportunities in the future.

Alsat TV:  How do you comment on the report of the ICG on the name issue?

Ambassador Reeker:  I thought the report by the ICG was a very interesting and fact-based report.  I think it is certainly something that will be widely read in the United States and among many of the officials in the new administration, and I think it is something that is worth reading by everyone.

Media representative: What is your comment on the recent police raids and arrests?

Ambassador Reeker:  I am not sure… is there some new news?

Media representative:  The arrests. . . . in Kumanovo.

Ambassador Reeker:  I was not aware of new arrests.  I am afraid I have not seen that news.

Media representative:  Last year there was a Macedonian month of culture in the United States.  Can we expect an extension of this to a half year or a year of Macedonian culture in the U.S?

Ambassador Reeker: This is a good question for your Minister of Culture because that was a manifestation that was organized by the Government of Macedonia in conjunction with the Macedonian Embassy in Washington and local institutions in the United States.  I think it was very successful and certainly we welcome those opportunities whenever they can happen.  Thank you very much.