2006 Press Releases

COM Speech at MOU Signing with Northern Municipalities

August 31, 2006

Mayor Milovic, Mayor Ristic, Mr. Radulovic, honored guests. It is a pleasure to be here today with you. This is an important occasion, and one that I am very happy to participate in.

The US Government has a long standing commitment to working with communities in Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic.

Since 2000, the American people, through USAID , have contributed more than $4 million in infrastructure projects throughout these municipalities. These funds were used to construct and rehabilitate roads, health centers, and schools, and repair damaged electrical equipment.

We value the cooperation we have received from the local communities in all these efforts and we are proud that projects supported and financed by the U.S. government can be found all over Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic.

The Memorandum of Understanding that we are signing today marks the next step in our continued relationship.

The U.S. government, working through Mercy Corps International and the International Organization for Migration, plans to contribute an additional $1 million over the next year to infrastructure projects in these three municipalities.

The projects themselves will be designed through a collaborative effort among municipal leaders, community groups and USAID . Mercy Corps and IOM both have proven and well-respected track records for working closely and meaningfully with communities across Kosovo, and we are confident that the projects chosen will be implemented quickly and with attention to detail.

Already, three road projects are selected and will be underway in September. Coincidentally, the Leposavic marketplace built with U.S. support in 2001 is, in fact, next to a section of road in Leposavic that will be resurfaced as part of this new project.

Other projects in the three municipalities may include the refurbishment of cultural centers, schools and libraries; water, sanitation, and sewage systems upgrades; and additional small road projects.

We hope that this kind of partnership will be a model for the future, and we hope that local governments will play an increasingly important role in improving the lives of their citizens.

We believe that the discussions on decentralization now ongoing in Vienna can provide a solid framework to empower local governments and help them address the daily needs of their people.

With decentralization, local communities and local governments will be better able to address their own problems and build a safe, secure and prosperous future for everyone in Kosovo.

We want to work with you in creating that better future. I look forward to seeing the results of the projects we are undertaking, and I will happily come back when we can dedicate the new roads and other construction that will begin soon. Thank you all very much.