Ambassador Reeker Greets Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. (large photo)

U.S. Secretary of Defense arrives in Macedonia

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived in Ohrid today to attend the Southeastern Europe Defense Ministerial conference hosted by the Macedonian Ministry of Defense. While here Secretary Gates will participate in the conference and also meet with President Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Gruevski and Defense Minister Zoran Konjanovski. Further details about the conference can be obtained from the Macedonian Ministry of Defense.

Ambassador Reeker Interview w/A1TV - size 18.5MB

Macedonia Must Think About Its Future
Ambassador Philip Reeker interview with A1

October 5, 2008

Ambassador Reeker:..”I think what you have to do is think about the future of the country.  You all worked so hard to reach this point.  You are on the verge of being at a place where Macedonia has never been before, with a level of acceptance and security in the 21^st century that you have never had before. I think leadership is required; leadership brings with it the responsibility of making difficult decisions, but at the end of the day, there will be a next day and achieving Euro-Atlantic integration is something that all citizens of Macedonia can be proud of. ”…more | [see the video footage from A1TV daily newscast, Oct 5, 2008-size 18.5MB].

Ambassador Reeker starts the race (LP)

Integrity AO ran a duathalon for youth from ages 11-18

October 4, 2008; City Park Skopje

On October 4 in the City park, Integrity AO ran a duathalon for youth from ages 11-18. Hundreds of participants enjoyed the beautiful day and live music as they cheered the participants racing through the park on bikes and then on foot. Ambassador Reeker addressed the crowd before the race and fired the starter’s pistol to get things underway. This was the first collaboration between the US Embassy and Integrity AO but the latest of several youth-focused activities supported by the Embassy.

Ambassador Reeker chats with artist Neh- at Beqiri, whose work will soon be on display in New York (large photo)

Ambassador Reeker Visits Tetovo

October 3, 2008

On Friday, October 3rd, Ambassador Reeker returned to Tetovo for his first visit since becoming Ambassador. The Ambassador met with Mayor Hazbi Lika, DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, and DPA leader Menduh Thaci. In addition, the Ambassador visited the Painted Mosque, saw the artwork on display at the National Gallery refurbished with funds from the Ambassador’s Funds for Cultural Preservation, and met the press at the American Corner, where he said, “It is very nice to come back to Tetovo for the first time after about ten years. I have seen the city has grown much larger, but I am happy to see that a number of the important sights of cultural heritage of Macedonia located in this city have not changed.” Read the transcript of his press conference here.

Ambassador Reeker at the Opening Cerem- ony of University American College Skopje (large photo)

Remarks upon the Opening of the Academic Year, University American College Skopje: 2008
H.E. Ambassador Philip Reeker

October 2, 2008

Ambassador Reeker: Dewey said, “Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but life itself.” For Dewey, the interactions between teacher and student create the student’s ability to think creatively, to think critically, which is not only the key to education, but indeed to democracy. That is, you can’t have democracy if you don’t have people who know how to think…more.

DCM Navratil Delivers Keynote Speech at Breast Cancer Conference

DCM Navratil Speaks at First Annual Breast Cancer Conference in Macedonia

October 1, 2008

DCM Thomas Navratil gave the keynote speech at the First Annual Breast Cancer Conference in Macedonia on October 1st, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The US Embassy collaborated with Avon, the Ministry of Health, the NGO Borka, the Macedonian Women’s Lobby, and other groups in the event. Navratil announced some of the Embassy’s upcoming plans to raise awareness regarding breast cancer. Dorothy Weston Gibbons, founder of The Rose in Houston, TX, will travel to Macedonia in late October to give talks and participate in roundtables. The Rose is known nationwide in the US for its innovative approach in combining volunteerism and patient care. In addition, the Embassy will sponsor a Walk for the Cure in March. These events are part of the Balkans Breast Cancer Initiative founded by US Embassy Pristina.

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker presents his credentials to President Branko Crevenkovski - size 12.9 MB

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker presented his credentials to President Branko Crevenkovski.

September 29, 2008

On September 29, Ambassador Philip T. Reeker met with Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki and presented his credentials to President Branko Crevenkovski. Ambassador Reeker is the fifth Ambassador from the United States to Macedonia. "I am proud and honored to take up my duties as the fifth Ambassador of the United States of America to Macedonia. I believe that Macedonia has had no better friend than the United States," Ambassador Reeker said to President Crvenkovski...full text | for more photos please click here | for his biography, please click here.

See the video footage from this event; [MTV1 & Kanal5 TV daily Newscast – size 12.9 MB].

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker addresses the press (LP) size -9MB

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker Arrives in Macedonia

September 25, 2008

Ambassador Reeker arrived in Skopje on September 25, where he was greeted at the airport by the press. [See the video footage from this event; (A1 TV and SITEL TV Daily Newscast - size 9 MB)].  “ I am happy to be back in Macedonia and I am grateful for the warm welcome. I bring warm greetings from President Bush, Secretary Rice and the U.S. people,” Ambassador Reeker said in Macedonian, to the delight of the crowd.  Ambassador Reeker will present his credentials to President Crvenkovski on Monday, September 29, 2008.

The National Endowment for Democracy

Democracy Fellowships

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites applications to its Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program. Established in 2001 to enable democracy practitioners and scholars from around the world to deepen their understand­ing of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change, the program is based at NED’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, in Wash­ington, D.C...more.

Application: For further details and to download our application materials, please visit us online at www.ned.org/forum/reagan-fascell.html. All application materi­als must be type-written and in English.