Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2008

Peace Corps Macedonia Group XIII Swearing-In Ceremony

Remarks by Ambassador Philip T. Reeker

Restaurant Palace in Kumanovo
December 12, 2008 

To view a video clip (WMV/size 14.3MB), please click here.

 

Ambassador Reeker’s address at the swearing-in ceremony for the new Peace Corps volunteers (LP) (WMV/size 14.3MB)

Recognition of honored guests including Mr. Pero Stojanovski, Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Zoran Damjanovski Mayor of Kumanovo, representatives from the Ministry of Local Self Government, Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Interior.  You all represent a partnership between our two countries to promote the development and prosperity of Macedonia and to build a strong foundation of understanding between the peoples of our two nations.

The United States aims to be Macedonia’s closest friend and supporter.  The partnership between our countries is deep and multi-dimensional, and we work hard every day to advance our common goals of democracy, security, and prosperity.    There is no more tangible manifestation that the United States of America is extending the hand of friendship than the presence and dedication of Peace Corps volunteers.   Your work here and the spirit with which you carry it out will change lives and will give Macedonians direct experience with American values.

The Peace Corps program represents a viable and visible symbol of America's contribution to world peace efforts.  Three goals have defined the Peace Corps mission since the program began during the Presidency of John Kennedy in 1961:

1. To help the people of interested countries to meet their needs for trained men and women.
 
2. To help promote a better understanding of the American people on the part of the people served.
 
3. To promote a better understanding of other people on the part of the American people.

Peace Corps Volunteers represent Americans from communities across the United States.  They come to build friendships with people of Macedonia from communities across this country.

Examples of current Volunteers’ accomplishments:

o   One Volunteer with  colleagues from a local organization assessed the needs of different age groups in their community for life skills development as a part of the program for prevention of trafficking in persons;

o   Another Volunteer helped his counterpart at a local school to attend the International Society of Music Education in Italy which provided an extensive networking possibility and that resulted in a donation of music instruments for a local school in Macedonia;
 
o   a group of Volunteers with the help of local colleagues from a Roma community helped organize the first Roma Youth Leadership Camp in Krushevo whereby 64 Roma youth learned leadership, healthy lifestyles, and environmental awareness skills;

o    another Volunteer taught English classes to 500 law students from the State University of Tetovo; and 20 Volunteers assisted the English Language Teachers' Association of Macedonia (ELTAM) in organizing a National Essay Writing Contest on the topic of Discrimination and Human Rights. These volunteers worked with 44 English Language teachers and 490 students and held workshops on how to write essays.

The new group of Volunteers will be working across Macedonia in organizations such as ESMA the Association of Roma Women in Suto Orizari - Skopje, Poddrshka Association of Citizens supporting Families and Youth at risk in Gevgelia, Agro-Vinka Association of Women Farmers in Istibanja, Textile Trade Association of Macedonia in Stip, State University of Tetovo, and the Municipalities of Demir Hisar, Dojran, Makedonska Kamenica, and Struga, Others will be teaching English in primary and secondary schools throughout Macedonia.

As you can see, Peace Corps is very much about people exchanging  ideas and working together, learning about each other, transferring skills and knowledge, sharing experiences and fostering understanding and goodwill.  We entrust these values to this new group of Peace Corps Volunteers.

At this time, will each of the new Volunteers prepare  to take the oath of service.   Please raise your right hands -  I will read - you will repeat . . . “I (state your name), do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps.”

My best wishes to each of you for a successful Volunteer service. And my heartfelt appreciation for your dedication to international understanding and to the weaving of closer ties between the United States of America and the Republic of Macedonia.

I now have the pleasure of Introducing the Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Pero Stojanovski, to address the Volunteers and guests.