2007 Press Releases

COM Speech: Two New Projects supported by the American People

February 1, 2007

Mayor Ristic, Distinguished Guests,

Thank you for the opportunity to join you this morning and celebrate some truly impressive achievements in Zubin Potok, a combination of your effort and encouragement and the assistance of the U.S. government.

Just before this ceremony I had the chance to see what has been done here since we first set out together to identify reconstruction projects in Zubin Potok in the Fall of 2006.  In just a matter of a few months, it's amazing to see what has been finished. 

The first part of our U.S. government project has provided new sidewalks along the main street leading to the town center, as well as streetlights and marked parking areas in the main square. We also constructed a new drainage system, which will help remove water from the road and preserve the road surface.

But that was only the beginning.  The U.S. government, working through USAID, has worked hard to completely rehabilitate the Zubin Potok Town Hall, which meant building a new roof, new windows, new flooring and new bathrooms, as well as a brand new heating system.  The newly renovated Town Hall will be used for municipal meetings, community events, high school and university student gatherings, and -- the happiest use of all -- for weddings year-round.

All of Zubin Potok’s 14,000 residents will benefit from these successful projects.  The United States government is proud to have contributed over $175,000 dollars to this effort, a significant amount of funding and a symbol of our desire to help all the people of Kosovo, north and south, east and west, enjoy a better life.  There will be more such projects in Zubin Potok and elsewhere in the northern municipalities, as well as in Serb-majority areas in southern Kosovo, as well.

This is an important time in Kosovo.  President Ahtisaari will arrive here tomorrow to present his proposals for the future of Kosovo, and we will all be listening carefully to what he says.  We believe that President Ahtisaari's proposals will contain very significant rights and guarantees for the Serb community in Kosovo, and we will support such efforts both politically and with further concrete assistance. 

I want to thank you again, and particularly to thank the municipal officials who worked so closely with us to implement these projects.  We look forward to further productive cooperation and we wish the citizens of Zubin Potok every enjoyment in their new surroundings.