Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

Remarks of Ambassador Philip Reeker to the United Macedonian Diaspora Global Conference at A working lunch 

June 12, 2009

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker:

 

Thank you very much, friends and colleagues.  Thank you Meto and team for your superb work in organizing this wonderful conference.  I’ve made so many new friends in the past 24 hours from around the world.  I’m honored to be a part of the first ever Global Macedonian Diaspora conference.  I know how complicated and difficult it is to pull off such an impressive conference like this  Now that you know how much work it is maybe you’ll want to make it bi-annual or tri-annual instead!

I am very pleased to see a number of prominent guests, like Adjutant General Dubie of the Vermont National Guard, who has become a good friend and who often travels to Skopje.  Thanks to those of you like Deputy Prime Minister Bocevski who have traveled from Skopje for this gathering.  The Deputy Prime Minister and I speak often and I appreciate his great wisdom.    Greetings to Ambassador Zoran Jolevski, my good friend and counterpart.  We call each other regularly to exchange views to the great pleasure of At&T.  And of course Srgjan Kerim who has done a great deal for the whole world.  I am delighted to join you here and to address you today.

Strengthening the already close and fruitful ties between the United States of America and the Republic of Macedonia is a vital purpose of this distinguished organization, the United Macedonian Diaspora.  It is the essence of my job as well.  I maintain that Macedonia has no better friend than the United States, and I am honored to represent the President of the United States and the Secretary of State in this important endeavor.  We are at a very decisive juncture.  Deputy Prime Minister Bocevski has already indicated that there are critical opportunities and challenges before us.  This is not unique to Macedonia or to the Unites States and some of these challenges need to be addresses swiftly.  I will share my thoughts and perspectives candidly with you. I appreciate and respect that there are various ways of approaching things, and if my views differ from yours in some areas I hope for your measured consideration.  I am speaking as a friend of Macedonia.

As we opened for business in our new Embassy in Skopje in late April, I realized that the impressive state-of-the art complex of buildings is more than just a better workspace than the over-crowded former kindergarten we occupied for many years.  It was a great honor for me personally to lower the American flag that flew at our old embassy and to present it to former President Crvenkovski as a sign of our great cooperation while he was in government.  I then raised a new flag over our new Embassy and gave that flag, a little less than a few weeks later, to President Ivanov on the occasion of his inauguration to represent the friendship and continuity of the strong U.S.-Macedonia relationship. The Embassy is a physical and tangible representation of America’s investment in our lasting partnership with Macedonia.  I can also point to the almost 1 billion dollars in assistance from the United States government to support our shared goal of Euro-Atlantic integration for Macedonia.  It is a place where our full Embassy team -- with strong interagency cooperation and a staff of nearly 300 -- can work together to advance our vision of a prosperous and secure Macedonia, integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions, making increasingly important contributions to regional and global stability, and naturally part of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. 

At our new Embassy we recently hosted Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. .  In his May 16 meetings with President Ivanov, with Prime Minister Gruevski and his Coalition partner Ali Ahmeti, and with opposition leader Branko Crvenkovski, Deputy Secretary Steinberg urged renewed efforts to solve the name dispute promptly.  He assured Macedonian leaders and the Macedonian public of sustained American support for Macedonia’s full Euro-Atlantic integration. This comes from the top.  At the NATO summit in Strasbourg, President Obama told the world,:  “We look forward to the day when we welcome Macedonia to the Alliance.”  

A little over a year ago, the United States and Macedonia signed a Declaration of Strategic Partnership and Cooperation.  Let me note some results:

·         Development assistance and capacity building:  We have extended funding for our assistance program, now approximately 20 million dollars per year, and expanded efforts in the areas of judicial reform, police training, Fulbright scholarships, NGO capacity building, strengthening educational institutions, and more.  Two weeks ago I and my team met again with Prime Minister Gruevski and his cabinet to review U.S. Assistance programs and to resolve specific problems in order to ensure we get the maximum benefit from our cooperative efforts.    At our two hour meeting, part of an ongoing series, we discussed some of the toughest issues facing Macedonia, including rule of law and inter-ethnic relations.  I credit Prime Minister Gruevski for this very productive initiative.  

·         Fostering an investment-friendly economic environment and encouraging U.S. investment:  I accompanied the Prime Minister last November to San Francisco and Chicago to help raise awareness of Macedonia as a destination for business and investment.  This has generated increased interest on the part of several American companies, including companies that Macedonian-Americans are involved in.    Equally important is our support to the improvement of the business climate.   This includes capacity-building in good governance at the national and municipal levels, and frank counsel on areas where government actions drive away investors.      

·         Security cooperation: Macedonia is a security provider, not a security consumer.  This is fitting for a NATO aspirant, a country which has served the international community with distinction in peacekeeping and stability efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Lebanon.  I know from my own experience in Iraq that Macedonian soldiers have an exceptional reputation for bravery and effectiveness.  One of the highlights during my tenure as Ambassador has been inviting the soldiers who returned from Iraq – a multiethnic brigade that performed superbly – to my residence for a welcome home barbecue.  As a result, American commanders vied for who got to have the Macedonians in their units.  We continue to support the military reforms and training that contributed to this excellent performance.   

Macedonia has announced that it will increase its troop contribution to Afghanistan now that it no longer has soldiers in Iraq.  This is very welcome and is an important contribution to world security.  Don’t be fooled, this is not only an American initiative.  This makes our entire world a safer place.

At Strasbourg President Obama also said, “All of us find ourselves at a crossroads; we have arrived at a moment where each nation and every citizen must choose at last how we respond to a world that has grown smaller and more connected than at any time.”  This is especially true for Macedonia, which confronts critical choices in shaping its future.  The United States and other friends in the international community can help in various ways, but only the citizens of Macedonia and their leaders can choose their country’s path.  

The name dispute with Greece, as we know, is blocking Macedonia’s advancement.  Deputy Secretary Steinberg, during his travel to both countries last month, encouraged decisive action, noting that there is a real window of opportunity now and that windows do not remain open forever.  He encouraged both sides to redouble their efforts to negotiate now a mutually-acceptable agreement over the name issue.  

We understand that this is no easy matter, and that this entire issue raises deep concerns on both sides.  Reaching a resolution will require outstanding leadership to build confidence in both democracies that a new and far more constructive relationship is possible.  As Congressman Pascrell said, Greece is no enemy of Macedonia and Macedonia is no threat to Greece.  The broader benefit for Macedonia is fulfillment of its European destiny, secure as a treaty ally of all NATO members and launched toward greater prosperity through membership in the European Union. 

Macedonia’s relations with Kosovo, while decent, should be improved.  I recently learned that Macedonia has a trade surplus with Kosovo.  Plus Kosovo is Macedonia’s geographically closest neighbor.  I personally remember that ten years ago Macedonia showed true compassion and humanitarian leadership by sheltering hundreds of thousands of refugees during the Kosovo crisis.  The United States applauds Macedonia’s decision to recognize Kosovo’s independence, and hopes that the two countries will move to establish full diplomatic relations quickly.   Macedonia can be a keystone of stability in a modern, prosperous Balkan region. 

Macedonia should take the steps necessary to strengthen its economy and attract investment – which is still possible despite the challenges of the global economic crisis.  Businesses need more than a flat tax – they need stability, consistent rule of law, and good governance.  Replacing a patronage system with a public administration based on merit rather than political loyalty is necessary.  Taking on those currently benefitting from corruption is necessary.  Ensuring that the drafting and implementation of laws fosters market competition is needed.  Macedonia has a great deal to offer, but if actual and potential investors do not see progress on reform, they will go elsewhere. 

Macedonia’s best future depends on improving inter-ethnic relations and ensuring full participation and engagement of all the countries’ citizens in its democracy and society.  I found it significant and moving that, for the first time in Macedonia’s democratic history, a Presidential candidate campaigned outside his ethnic group and received significant support, and that a woman ran for President, also for the first time in Macedonian history.  I hope this is a window into Macedonia’s future, in which ethnic and cultural diversity is treasured and does not divide people into separate categories, and in which we see more leadership by women in every sphere. 

I have highlighted what I see as the main challenges and opportunities Macedonia faces today, and briefly summarized what the United States government is doing to help.  What about the United Macedonian Diaspora and the other organization represented here that are working together?  –It is of course natural to sometimes pursue goals grounded in history, or in previous circumstances that no longer have the same relevance.  To avoid this risk, I would urge the members of the United Macedonian Diaspora their experiences as Americans and Canadians and Australians and others based on the realities that Macedonia faces today.  Encourage the ideals of rule of law, and equal treatment under law, good governance, inter-ethnic harmony, and international cooperation.  Tackle the problems that impede advancement.  I have full confidence that Macedonia will earn a bright future for itself and that the members of the United Macedonian Diaspora will play an even more constructive role toward that goal. 

Macedonians of all ethnic affiliations of all religions do not need anyone else to tell them who they are or to guarantee their identity – as if such a thing were possible.  But they do need to develop more constructive relations within their societies, with their neighbors, and with the broader European and international community.  The United States remains the biggest supporter of the Republic of Macedonia.  As long as I serve as Ambassador, our team will work hard every day to maintain and increase this support in all its forms, from training and equipment to educational exchanges, and always with the candid advice of a true friend.

Thank you.  Blagodaram.