Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

Comments to the Media after the Commencement Address at Southeast European University

June 6, 2009

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker

Thank you for coming today. I would like to thank the Southeast European University for inviting me today. It is a real honor to be the speaker at the graduation ceremony today. It stresses that the education is one of the most important things, one of the greatest investments that can be made in the future of any country. Macedonia has made a wise investment in supporting SEEU here and these graduates today I think are an excellent model for Macedonia’s future and they will make great contributions to that future.
When I looked at the graduates today, I realized that the investment that the United States made in this institution, SEE University, $20 million, was definitely an investment that was well worth the effort. It is one of our biggest efforts to bring together the young people of Macedonia in a multilingual, multicultural environment. And I think we see the success of that today.

I did note in my remarks that today, June 6 is the 65^th anniversary of what we know as “D-Day” – when Allied troops first landed at Normandie in France and began breaking down Hitler’s Atlantic wall. I thought it was a good thing to recall this day, and I suggested to the students they make this one their own “D-Day”, for which they demonstrate what people can do when they work together for a common goal.

Education, obviously, is an important commitment of SEEU and the United States. USAID is working with local partners throughout Macedonia to refurbish primary schools. They are installing energy-efficient and money-saving windows, roofs and heating system. The Minister of Economy is here with me today, who is also focused, on behalf of the Macedonian government, on energy projects. The money saved in the energy efficiency through what we are doing with the schools here will go back into the schools and help to ensure that today’s students in Macedonia are ready for tomorrow’s workforce.

It was a great honor to meet with my friend, Rector Abazzi of SEEU, and his team. We think that this university has done great things under his leadership and we always look for ways we can cooperate on the future endeavors of the university. Of course, I did take time to sit down with another important colleague, my friend, the Minister of Economy, who is also a professor here at SEEU, Fatmir Besimi. I am pleased to know that the Minister is going to be travelling to the United States next month. As you know, our Embassy has been working very closely with Macedonia and with the Ministry of Economy on a range of economic issues since the time I arrived, almost nine months ago. The Minister’s visit is an opportunity to meet with US economic officials in Washington. I think it will be very helpful. There is a great interest in how the global economic situation is affecting this region, this country, so that will be useful, and will be a good follow-up to the recent meeting my Embassy team had with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet on the US assistance program is general. It is an excellent initiative that Prime Minister Gruevski made to have regular meetings between the Embassy and the Cabinet, to increase the effectiveness of the US assistance program here. I think that increased the benefit and the impact of our work for the Macedonian people.

One last thing we discussed was the June 11 export conference which will take place here in Macedonia, co-hosted by the Ministry of Economy and the USAID Business Environment Activity program. This will support our efforts to assist Macedonia in building businesses and industries that can thrive in a larger market, the global markets, and take advantage of this country’s strengths and regional opportunities here as well.

So again, thank you to the Minister, that you to the Rector and congratulations to all students.

Q:  As an Ambassador and diplomat, can you comment on naming Macedonia, North Macedonia by the EuroCommissioner  Jacques Barro?

I think you know our position on the name issue. It is an issue that needs to be resolved, and with the European parliamentary elections this weekend, once those are over, both Macedonia and Greece, have indicated that they are ready to move ahead and renew the negotiations necessary to resolve that issue, using the good offices of the Ambassador Nimetz and the United Nations to come to resolution of that, which will help Macedonia then realize its goals, including NATO and EU membership.

Q: Can you comment on the incident on promotion of the dictionary in Athens?

For anything that took place in Athens I refer you to my colleague, the US Ambassador in Athens.

Q: What can you say to the government and the people, because it is an emotional reaction?

I think emotions are something one needs to keep in check. It is important to look towards the future, what is truly important to the future of this country. That is why, being here today for a graduation ceremony, a new graduation of leaders who have been prepared at this institution for the challenges of the future, in business, in communication, how to live and work in the modern world, in the 21^st century. That is what I am focused on and I hope that what the graduates and their proud families will be focused on.

Q; Did you receive an answer from our Prime Minister on your letter that you and other ambassadors sent to him about EVN?

I have regular conversations with the Prime Minister, in fact I saw him yesterday, before I go on my own trip to Washington.  As I mentioned our team met with the Prime Minister and his team. Last week we had a very successful, useful meeting, a review of our assistance. Through that process which he initiated, it was a very good idea, we have been able to focus on making our assistance programs even stronger. We share regularly our concerns; things that we believe affect Macedonia’s future, including the rule of law, and fair and transparent judiciary. So those are thing we discuss on regular basis.

Q: What were his arguments about that?

We discuss these things openly and candidly, we made our concern and position known on that  as we do on other issues.  The Prime Minster and I had discussions about this. Clearly, as you know, our concerns have involved the judicial process in that particular case, the need to have an  open, transparent judiciary on which businesses and international investors can depend.  So we made clear our position on that.

◊ To see Ambassador Reeker's Congratulatory Remarks at the SEEU Graduation Ceremony 2009, please click here.