Good morning and thank you for providing me with this opportunity to set the stage for this important discussion of a topic close to my heart: Serbian-American relations. The history of the Serbian people dates back centuries.  Serbs are fond of telling me that they were eating with forks made from gold long before Europeans …

June 27, 2019 Good morning.  Thank you to Dr. Shentov [1] and the Center for the Study of Democracy [2] for the opportunity to say a few words to set the stage for this important conversation today. Let me jump right into the heart of the matter.  Serbia enjoys a traditionally close relationship with Russia.  The United …

Post-event correction: Gayten-LGBT is devoted to issues of equality but was not directly involved in the opening of the center. It is a pleasure to be here today to celebrate the opening of the LGBTI Drop-In Center.  When this idea was proposed in 2014, the U.S. Embassy strongly supported the project.  The need is no …

Good afternoon.  Today we have an  opportunity to underscore the continued cooperation between the United States and Serbia. Today, the U.S. Embassy is proud to mark the delivery of equipment worth over $1,200,000 to the Serbian Border Police, Service for Counter Narcotics, Service for Special Investigative Measures, and Customs Administration. This assistance is a concrete …

Good evening.  Thank you all for coming to tonight’s event. In this part of the world, March 8th is International Women’s Day.  In the United States, we don’t celebrate that day per se.  Instead, the entire month of March is designated Women’s History Month.  It is a time to celebrate the achievements of women, and …

It’s a pleasure to join you tonight in the screening of this extraordinary film. I want to congratulate the organizers of the Belgrade Film Festival for offering this city’s film lovers such a creative, thought-provoking menu of films from around the world, including dozens of movies produced in America. Your selection committee this year showed …

Thank you Deputy Speaker Marinkovic, and who have joined us today. Two weeks ago, Serbia, the United States, and much of the world marked the end of the First World War, a conflict in which Serbia lost a quarter of its population.  The next war was no easier, with Serbians paying a dreadful price for …

It’s a true pleasure to be here today and to join you all in honoring the great Karl Malden. Karl Malden was born in the heart of America, in Chicago, to a family that taught him to take deep and loving pride in his Serbian heritage.  In doing so, he became a man that represents …

Thank you, Mayor Zelenović. Let me me also extend my gratitude to Dr. Milovan Pissari, who did so much historical research on the the work of the Red Cross, the Rockefeller Mission, and Dr. Strong.  And thanks to the whole team involved in putting together this exhibit. It is my pleasure to open this exhibition …

Thank you Jelena, and welcome to everyone to this sixth Belgrade NATO Week.  During the course of this gathering, we’ll have a chance to discuss specific security challenges and stability in the Western Balkans, as well as the scope for NATO’s cooperation with Serbia. Those are of course very important and worthy topics.  I want …

Minister Popovic, Mr. Randjic, ladies and gentlemen. It is exciting to be with you today to discuss the issue of innovation and how Serbian firms become more innovative. I think I am probably preaching to the choir when I say that it is impossible to understate the importance of innovation.  It has an impact on …

Good afternoon. I would like to welcome you all to the embassy and thank you for joining us as we commemorate National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I’m hopeful that by highlighting some of the ways the United States is working to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities, today’s discussion will provide you with useful tools …

Good morning, thank you all very much for the invitation to speak here today. The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with the Supreme Court of Cassation as a co-sponsor of this conference.  The U.S. Department of Justice and USAID have had a long and fruitful partnership with Serbia’s judiciary and police. They say “crime …

For many of the Serbs in the audience, I hope you have had a chance to see the video clip the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade prepared to honor 100th anniversary of the Serbian flag flying over the White House. For those who may have missed it, that video includes a sincere message to Serbia: “Vi …

Madam Prime Minister, Director Majić, dear guests and partners. It is a great honor to be here with you today to open the first-ever Philanthropy Festival in Belgrade and Novi Sad. A few weeks ago, the Government of Serbia and Serbian civil society organizations inaugurated Serbia’s first National Day of Giving — a day that …

It is truly an honor to be here with you today. I wish to thank the Belgrade City Government, including the Office of the Mayor, and particularly Assistant Mayor Andreja Mladenovic, for organizing today’s event. The friendship between the people of Serbia and America was forged in the crucible of the First World War.  Earlier …

This month the U.S. and Serbia are remembering the 100th anniversary of our successful partnership during World War I.  Our trade relations, however, go back even deeper.  On October 14, 1881, the first commerce and consular treaty was signed between the U.S. and Serbia.  I’m told one of the first exports to the U.S. was …

First of all, I’d like to thank the organizers of this conference for inviting me to speak.  I’m also grateful that they accepted my request that I not be lumped into the previous panel, as originally planned, since I did not believe I had much to contribute to the debate on BREXIT.  As punishment, however, …

Good morning. I would like to thank Brankica Jovanović, Dragan Čurović, and everyone at the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality for inviting me to be with you this morning and to take part in the opening of this fantastic exhibition, Bridge of Understanding. I would also like to recognize Harvey Lloyd, a groundbreaking photographer …

It is my honor to be here with you today. The Embassy is proud to support this exhibition that celebrates the friendship and cultural ties between our countries. First, I’d like to thank Vladimir Čeh for curating an inspired exhibition that reminds us of forgotten stories of heroism and friendship. Thanks also to our team …

Good Afternoon. First of all, I would like to thank the Faculty of Drama Arts and the Independent Journalists Association of Serbia for hosting this afternoon’s event.  As a strong supporter of a free press, the U.S. Embassy is proud to sponsor for the thirteenth consecutive year the NUNS Awards for Excellence in Investigative Journalism.  …

The bitter harvest of the Balkan Wars of the 1990’s left tens of thousands of people dead, while hundreds of thousands endured the trauma of being forced to flee their homes, compelled to start new lives somewhere else.  Now, nearly a generation later, too many still struggle to rebuild a life and support a family.  …

The bitter harvest of the Balkan Wars of the 1990’s can be measured in its impact on human lives. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives; hundreds of thousands endured the trauma of being forced to flee their homes and begin to rebuild their lives elsewhere.  Even after diplomats and statesmen put an end …

Thank you, Dragan, for that introduction and for inviting me to take part in this event.  And thank you to the Serbian American Friendship Club for partnering with our Department of Defense to put on this conference.  You always do a good job and it’s great to see so many of your members here today. …

Ambassador Kyle Scott June 12, 2017, Belgrade Minister Nedimović, Director Karaklić, Superintendent Noble, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests – I am very pleased to be a part of this important event commemorating the Sister Park Agreement between National Parks in Serbia and the United States. Tara National Park is a cultural and natural treasure.  The …

Good morning President Vučić, Prime Minister Mirović, Mayor Laban, AMETEK leaders and employees, and distinguished guests. It is a privilege for me to be here today with you at the opening of AMETEK’s new facility in Subotica. We at the Embassy have been strong supporters of U.S. investors in Serbia and of Serbia’s economic development, …

It is a pleasure to be here with the Gay Straight Alliance as you celebrate the fifth year of the Rainbow Award! The work of the Gay Straight Alliance and other LGBT and human rights organizations is essential to protecting and advancing the rights of LGBT persons.  The United States remains committed to advancing the …

Good evening. I would like thank the Faculty of Dramatic Arts for hosting today’s event, and, of course, the Independent Journalists Association of Serbia.  In that regard, Mr. Lekic, congratulations on your recent selection to lead NUNS, which works every day to protect the rights of Serbian journalists so they can perform their essential role …

Good morning!  I am happy to be here with all of you today to join in commemorating World Intellectual Property Day.  In particular I would like to thank AmCham for organizing and hosting this event today.  I would also like to thank Mr. Popovic from the Ministry of Education and Mr. Djukanovic from the Ministry …

Ladies and Gentlemen: It is my pleasure to be here today to participate in this important national conference. I believe that we can all agree that for democracy to work, every person’s voice matters. If there are those whose voice is weaker, or who are hampered in presenting their views or seeking access to their …

Minister Brnabić, Mr. Čadež, Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, I am pleased to join you at the 2016 Belgrade Venture Forum, an event focused on the essence of what makes a dynamic private sector—young people with new ideas and the drive to turn their concepts into reality.  Entrepreneurs are special people.  They need the courage …

Good morning Minister Brnabic, thank you for joining us this morning for this event organized in cooperation of International Data Corporation (IDC) and our U.S. Embassy, Commercial Service. IDC is a U.S.-based IT company, which provides strategic analysis to governments and corporations. Today’s event is devoted to exploring this new concept of the Internet of …

Good morning to our hosts, Prime Minister Vučić, Ministers Vujović, Vulin, Stefanović, Ljajić, Knežević;  Mayors; and distinguished guests.  I’m happy to be here for the opening of the new wastewater treatment plant and to celebrateApatinska Brewery’s impressive milestone of 260 years in business.  The U.S. Embassy is a strong supporter of both U.S. investors and …

Friends and colleagues, thank you for having me here with you today.  I was genuinely pleased to accept the invitation to speak here because I firmly believe in the goals of your organization.  More efficient and ethical corporate and public governance in Serbia will lead to increased competitiveness, improved economic freedom, and reduced corruption.  These …

July 5, 2016 Mr. President, Madam Speaker, Mr. Prime Minister, Your Holiness, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Diplomatic colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a Happy 4th of July! I wish to thank Touch ‘n Go, Steve Rider, children’s chorus Čarolija, as well as all of our sponsors, embassy employees and volunteers for their help …

Jun 1, 2016 Opening remarks Public Procurement Training Conference – June 1 2016 Potpredsednice Udovički, gospodine Ujehara, gospodine Benedikt, gospodine Verheijen, direktore Jovanoviću i drugi uvaženi gosti, havala vam što ste danas ovde. Hvala vam i na vašoj stalnoj podršci i saradnji sa američkom ambasadom na ključnom pitanju sa kojim se suočava Vlada Srbije i …

May 26, 2016 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I wish to extend a special welcome to Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucić, Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković, MOI State Secretary Aleksandar Nikolic, Amb. Giuseppe Manzo, and Amb. Arne Sannes Bjørnstad. We also have a number experts present; thank all of you — presenters, experts, and participants, for …

April 13, 2016 Good afternoon members of NALED, fellow partners, and distinguished guests. I’m happy to have been invited here to speak to all of you on the occasion of NALED’s 10th annual meeting. My Embassy has been a strong supporter of NALED since its inception ten years ago and we are very pleased with …

March 30, 2016 Good morning. I’d like to thank the George C. Marshall Center for organizing this seminar and inviting me to provide a few remarks. I actually offered to provide many remarks, but Dr. Zeneli assured me that a few would be sufficient. When I asked her what I should speak about, she said, …