Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

Ambassador Reeker gives his remarks at the opening session of the VIZIJA 7 Microsoft’s Annual Conference. (LP) - mp3 - size 12.1MB MTV1 in Macedonian  (2MB) - MTV2 in Albanian (1.9MB) -

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Philip Reeker at the opening session of the VIZIJA 7 Microsoft’s Annual Conference

◊ To hear Ambassador Reeker’s speech at the conference (audio mp3 file - size 12 MB), please click here.
◊ View the local coverage of this event on [(MTV1 in Macedonian - video WMV file, size 2.06BM) & (MTV2 in Albanian - video WMV file, size 1.9MB)].

Wednesday, October 7 at 10:10
Aleksandar Palace, Red Hall – Hall 1

Thank you, Dimitar Grozdanov, and Ilijancho Gagovski, and the entire Microsoft Macedonia team, for your invitation to speak here this morning.  I am especially honored to join the Chairman of Microsoft Europe, Jan Muehlfeit.  We met earlier this morning and had a very interesting discussion about innovation and creativity, and about Microsoft and its future here in Macedonia.  Jan’s own story is almost a paradigm of the transformation that has occurred in Central and Eastern Europe in the last 20 years.  In just a month, we will, of course, mark twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Think of what has been accomplished since then, and how the lives of hundreds of millions have been transformed.  And think too, how Microsoft has transformed the world through innovation and the application of technology.  President Obama has spoken of the time to press “reset” on some issues. When faced with a number of the tough diplomatic questions in the world today – even right here in this region – sometimes I would like to imagine we could just use “Control-Alt-Delete” and start again!

In all fairness, as a U.S. Ambassador, I should also recognize the Mac – users here today, and all the U.S. technology companies helping to define the 21^st century.  Microsoft is, of course, one of the premier U.S. corporations with a presence - of some kind - in every country.  When we talk about the importance and contributions of American companies throughout the world, I doubt there are few others with such an impressive global reach and impact as Microsoft.

But, just as in diplomacy and international relations, even the largest players don’t exist in a vacuum.  Success in any endeavor requires partners, colleagues, friends and supporters.  As I will discuss, all of you play an important role here in Macedonia and throughout the region, not only as business people providing valuable goods, services, and knowledge, but as leaders building connections between Macedonia and the wider world.  These are connections that will lead to further growth, development, and integration, and they are vital.

We have just begun a new fiscal year in the United States Government.  I think it is fair to say that for many companies—indeed for the U.S. Treasury, this was a very difficult year, in which economies worldwide experienced significant contraction, at a pace not seen since the 1930s.  But governments have also responded.  In the United States, we took measures to stabilize the economy, restore growth and reform the regulatory system.  Just about two weeks ago in Pittsburgh, leaders of the 20 largest economies met to assess progress and coordinate next steps.  In Pittsburgh, the G-20 leaders pledged to sustain this strong policy response to rebuild global trade in a sustainable and durable recovery. 

The G-20 leaders recognized the importance of healthy financial markets, of global trade, and of the need to provide quality jobs for their populations.  They also recognized that private-sector growth was critical to realizing all these goals.  In fact, if there is one lesson that we have learned from the global financial crisis, it is that governments and private industry need to maintain a relationship of productive cooperation, and not destructive confrontation.

It is this mutual connection that makes the role of all companies – not just American firms – so important to Macedonia.  And this is why I am pleased to have received the invitation to come and speak at this year’s Vizija event.

The United States has a long-standing vision of a Transatlantic Community, including a Europe “whole, free, and at peace.”  That vision includes a stable and prosperous Macedonia, and we have demonstrated a commitment to supporting Macedonia’s economic growth and development.  Our more than $1 billion assistance since Macedonia’s independence, has included projects to transform and upgrade targeted Macedonian industries and value chains.  Through these projects the United States has helped dozens of Macedonian companies learn to access financing and to penetrate global markets. Assistance has been provided to facilitate the successful introduction of new technologies and quality management and production practices.  Assistance and training has also helped improve local business management and operations by supporting over 250 companies in sectors such as light manufacturing, apparel and agribusiness.

Our financial assistance not only focuses on helping businesses but also on making sure that future generations are ready to fill the jobs of the 21^st century marketplace. USAID programs provide renovation, computers and innovative teaching applications for schools throughout Macedonia.  The “Macedonia Connects” project helped give the country the moniker of “first wireless nation in the world.”  We also train teachers to creatively apply information technologies in the classroom and work to ensure their curriculum and teaching methods reflect the needs of employers worldwide.  We know that by investing in today’s students we help them secure tomorrow’s opportunities.  I cannot think of a better use of our assistance dollars. 

We have also worked to promote Macedonia in other less tangible ways.  Just this week I returned from a trip in which I accompanied President Ivanov to the United States.  The trip included visits to Vermont and New York.  This kind of engagement helps to build and expand partnerships, brings visibility to Macedonia, and helps to educate Americans on Macedonia’s contributions to our shared security. 

Just under a year ago, I also accompanied members of the Government of Macedonia on a “Road Show,” that targeted potential foreign investment in Macedonia.  This was an unusual trip for a U.S. ambassador to make.  People often ask me why I did it – what’s in it for the U.S.? 

The simple answer is that the United States is invested in Macedonia’s success.  This was already the case when I served in Macedonia ten years ago, and it remains the case today.  This investment has also taken a very literal form, in the new Embassy that we dedicated just this last July.  We often speak of the Declaration of Strategic Partnership and Cooperation between our countries, which was signed in May of 2008, and we remain dedicated to building on that cooperation – a two-way partnership that is with the Republic of Macedonia, without regard to political parties, personalities, ethnicity, or language.   I have a mandate from President Obama to support U.S. business and investment, and to work to support efforts that strengthen Macedonia for the long term.  That means embracing innovation, creative thinking in all spheres, and a change of old mindsets. 

This goes hand in hand with the wider goals of ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity for Macedonia, the Balkans, and all of Europe. 

Of course, for anyone who understands how the world interacts, it’s understood that the benefits brought by American companies reach far beyond any potential investment dollars.  Worldwide, U.S. firms are leading the way in bringing about changes in business culture, providing examples for good corporate governance, working with governments to build meaningful partnerships, and helping improve the way businesses interact with customers.

And that begins to answer the question, “What is in it for Macedonia?”

Simply put, U.S. firms make good partners.  To achieve the kinds of progress that the citizens of Macedonia are working for, the government will need constant and accurate feedback from businesses to know what policies work, what policies don’t, and where increased benefits can be realized.  American firms bring experience in raising these issues with governments worldwide, and have time and again proven to be constructive partners.

Moreover, U.S. companies, particularly in the information and communication technology fields, bring experience and knowledge that offer Macedonian partners (and government) the opportunity to tap into important formal and informal global networks.  And they are in a unique position to bring increased visibility to human, economic, and business potential in Macedonia.  This is exactly the sort of knowledge and networking that can help the country increase its economic competitiveness and to move beyond a transition economy.

There’s one more thing that American companies can bring that is especially valuable to a smaller economy like Macedonia’s.  This is the ability to foster growth on a regional basis.  To larger players, an economy with a population of just over two million may not be attractive in itself, but Macedonia is in a unique position to leverage its location, as well as a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-faith workforce to access other markets in this region.  One way to build this regional presence is to work through the American Chambers of Commerce in the region.  These organizations are well positioned to help reach across borders and build the networks that are absolutely vital to success.  I know how useful the AmCham can be – and I’m very pleased that Ilijanco will continue this year as President of AmCham Macedonia.   

Of course in the era of globalization, many of the benefits I mentioned are not unique to American firms, or to American assistance programs.  We welcome the benefits that all responsible businesses and investors can and do bring to Macedonia; and we coordinate closely with other Embassies and the international donor community.  The United States in fact encourages companies from all over to work together with government to build a healthy, competitive business and investment environment in Macedonia.  After all, as we saw at the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit, progress is made not by excluding others, or by looking for others to blame.  Progress comes by expanding the list of stakeholders and building cooperation.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in the year to come.