Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

Remarks of Ambassador Philip Reeker to the United Macedonian Diaspora

June 13, 2009

- Speech of U.S. Ambassador Philip Reeker at UMD Global Conference - part 1 | part 2 | part 3  [(UMD) United Macedonian Diaspora  Channel].

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker:

Dobro Vecer.

Distinguished guests, colleagues, friends, thank you for inviting me to say a few words here tonight, to follow my friend and colleague Zoran Jolevski.  You know, Zoran and his wife were the first hands I shook after I became United States Ambassador to Macedonia.  Thank you Sonja for such a kind introduction.  Thanks once again to Meto, Alexandra and the whole team for organizing this hugely successful conference.  It has been a true pleasure to spend time here in Washington, my home town, with such a dedicated group of individuals over the past few days and it is an honor to address you here on the last night of the United Macedonian Diaspora’s first ever global conference.  I am confident that this is the beginning of a strong tradition.

Over the last few days, I have talked with many of you about the challenges and opportunities that face the United States and Macedonia and about the strong friendship between the two countries.  I have appreciated hearing all your perspectives and am grateful that you have heard mine.  I thank all of you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for being open and frank about the challenges Macedonia faces and about your concerns.  As the U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia, and let me just say I am extremely proud to be the United States Ambassador to Macedonia, I can assure you of my personal support and my government’s strong partnership in Macedonia’s future.

As I’ve said many times, the United States and Macedonia have much in common.  We share a Euro-Atlantic identity that is marked by a commitment to democracy, freedom, respect, tolerance and responsibility.  Our two countries are global security providers.  Indeed, Macedonia has contributed peacekeepers and soldiers around the globe in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia.  Both countries are also multi-ethnic democracies that are committed to building a social and political fabric with all those who live within our borders.  We also share serious global challenges at this time in the 21st century.  We must work together and with the community of nations to meet global challenges such as extremism, poverty, climate change, pandemic disease and financial meltdown. 

Yet, with all its heritage and proud history, Macedonia is much younger as a country than the United States and has not had the benefit of centuries to consolidate its democracy.  While Macedonia is certainly a strong and vibrant country, it faces challenges; challenges that the United States, as a great friend of Macedonia, stands ready to assist with.  We have 233 years experience as an independent country and we don’t have everything exactly right.  One challenge of course that I need not point out to my colleagues here tonight is resolving the dispute with Greece over Macedonia’s name.  Now the United States will do all that we can to support the UN process led by mediator Matthew Nimetz and to encourage a lasting, realistic solution that is acceptable to both parties.  However, only Macedonia and Greece can solve it.  This will take strength, creativity, and a focus on the benefits, to Macedonia and the region, of Macedonia fulfilling its true potential as a full member of the Euro-Atlantic community.     

Like other young countries, Macedonia must also continue consolidating its democracy.  Macedonian leaders appear committed to this and I applaud the progress Skopje has made thus far.  Efforts to fight corruption have resulted in improvements in Macedonia’s ranking on Transparency International’s yearly Corruption Perceptions Index.  The government’s laudable efforts to fight trafficking in persons resulted in Macedonia being ranked as a “Tier One” country in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report.  These are notable accomplishments, although more must be done to further consolidate institutions and rule-and-law in Macedonia.  This is not a criticism; the Republic of Macedonia is only 18 years old.   But swift progress will be met with invaluable rewards, such as greater investor confidence, more foreign direct investment, and a higher standard of living for all people in Macedonia.

The U.S.-Macedonian friendship is not only a friendship between nations but also between people.  While countries certainly address challenges, it’s the people inside government who make policy decisions.  So, I want to take the last few moments of my time here to talk about the power of individuals.  I am distinctly reminded of this as I stand before all of you – a group of individuals committed to a cause, joined together here to learn, discuss and come up with solutions. 

It’s people who make up government, implement tax systems, enforce laws and keep the peace and conduct diplomacy, like Zoran Jolevski.  It’s people that support their country’s policy decisions such as the 94 percent of Macedonians who support EU and NATO membership.  It’s people, like Ivica Bocevski, who work in government that make joining these institutions possible by negotiating in Brussels and implementing necessary changes in Skopje.   It’s people who work in non-governmental organizations and the media who inform the public and hold their governments accountable.  It’s people in diaspora communities, like UMD, who build ties between nations by exchanging ideas, asking questions, building bonds and sharing culture. 

It is people who solve problems.  Civil society and civic engagement are the backbones of strong societies and you represent the best of that tradition.  Everyone here has a role to play in building a more secure and prosperous Macedonia and in deepening the already strong U.S.-Macedonian relationship.  I commend your current engagement and encourage you to continue to support Macedonia.   

Thank you once again to UMD for hosting this conference and for allowing me to address the group twice.  I wish you all the best of luck.  Thank you.