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REMARKS AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE BALKAN CASE CHALLENGE

Deputy Chief of Mission Scott F. Kilner

Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Vienna,
June 1, 2006

Good evening. First, I'd like to express my deep appreciation to Program Coordinator, Veronika Nitsche, for inviting me to be with you this evening.

This is an exciting event, and I'd like to congratulate the organizers -- especially the World University Service Austria, the Austrian Development Corporation, and the Economic Chamber -- for putting together such a worthwhile conference.

Let me explain why I -- as a representative of the United States government -- am so interested offering just a few brief words to you this evening. You may see yourselves as just young students, trying to get a successful start in your professions, just as students do all over the world. But, in truth, you are part of something much larger -- something that is very important.

For more than five decades, the overarching strategic objective of the United States in Europe has been to support the development of a Europe that is free, prosperous and united. For only a free, prosperous and united Europe will be the strong partner we seek to promote our common values and to tackle common problems throughout the world.

The United States has promoted European unity, democracy and prosperity in two main ways. First, since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community in the 1940s and the European Economic Community in the 1950s, we have steadfastly encouraged European integration through the successive deepening and widening of the EEC and now the European Union. Second, through NATO, we provided Europe with a security umbrella throughout the Cold War.

With the end of the Cold War, the expansion of European democracy and prosperity took a quantum leap forward -- reflected in both the enlargement of NATO and the European Union. But we are acutely aware that the process remains unfinished. Simply put, the large strategic vision of a Europe that is united, peaceful and stable cannot be achieved unless all the countries of the Balkan region are fully part of it. This means that Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia and Kosovo and Serbia and Montenegro and Albania and Macedonia must all find their rightful place in a united Europe.

For the last 15 years, however, the Balkans have remained an island separate from the great European project and not yet at the heart of the democracy wave that swept over Eastern and Central Europe. This isolation, however, is beginning to change. As you well know, 2006 is a year of active diplomacy and important political developments for several countries, notably Serbia Montenegro, Kosovo and Bosnia. The recent referendum in Montenegro was an important development, as are the ongoing talks here in Vienna on the future status of Kosovo.

Such political developments are critically important, and they must be nurtured. But by themselves they won't be enough to ensure the full integration of all Balkan countries into Europe. The other essential part of the equation is successful economic development. For without economic prosperity, it is hard to imagine that durable political stability can be achieved.

And this is where you all have such an important role to play. The expertise and talent you have brought to this conference -- and the experience you have gained here during these meeting in Vienna -- mark you out as future business leaders of your countries. You represent the true builders of a prosperous, peaceful, and democratic future in the Balkan region.

We recognize, of course, that foreign assistance has a role to help you to realize this brighter future. And we are actively engaged to provide such help -- especially the kind of collaborative assistance that helps people to help themselves. Let me mention just a few examples of projects where the US government is working together with people in the Balkans.

Since 2001 in Serbia and Montenegro alone, the United States government has invested more than $700 million. For example, the U.S Agency for International Development has worked with a range of Serbian organizations to build up the tourism industry through grants to local businesses, help with trade shows, and other investments. With receipts up 120 percent since 2002, tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the Serbian economy.

In Montenegro, we have recently invested $12 million to improve the regional water distribution system. In Albania, we are working to improve government accountability by providing technical assistance to nongovernmental organizations and to local and central government institutions. In Bulgaria, since 1991 the United States has provided over $560 million in humanitarian and technical assistance and training. And in support of education and academic exchange, this summer about 15,000 Bulgarian students will travel and work in the United States. And just days ago, on May 23 in Slovenia, we helped launch the opening of their new Center for a European Perspective. The center will focus on assisting Southeastern European countries in the challenges they face with European Union integration.

I could continue for a long time with many more examples, but you get the picture.

Finally, let me say that, from my perch in the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, we are very pleased that Austria not only shares our commitment to the Balkans, but is ahead of us in many respects and has made the region a central focus of its current Presidency of the European Union.

I'm sure most of you are aware that Austria has provided the venue for ongoing talks on the future status of Kosovo. And this important "Balkan Case Challenge" conference -- strengthening the links between higher education and economy to help all of you realize your full potential -- is another concrete demonstration of Austria's commitment to the future of the Balkan region.

So again, the United States Embassy is proud to lend its support to the organizers of this worthy conference. But even more, we applaud all of you participants for all that you have achieved to date. And we wish you every success in the years ahead, building that democratic, prosperous and united Europe that is so important to us all.

Thank you.

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